Category: Trade Body Site

9 February 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 5% in 2017 – the seventh consecutive year of growth. New business in December 2017 increased by 4% compared with the same month in 2016.
The plant and machinery finance and commercial vehicle finance sectors reported new business up in 2017 by 12% and 1% respectively, compared with 2016, while new finance for business equipment was up by 7% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance industry reported a record level of new business of almost £32 billion in 2017, despite challenging economic conditions and subdued business investment growth.
“The latest figures also reveal that asset finance is a vital source of funding for SMEs when investing in business equipment and machinery. Of the total asset finance new business in 2017, £18.6 billion went to SMEs – 12% higher than in 2016.”
Dec 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Dec
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Dec
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,632
+4
7,861
+5
31,769
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,483
-1
7,695
+5
30,752
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
512
+1
1,515
+5
6,617
+12
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
572
-14
1,934
-1
7,480
+1
IT equipment finance (£m)
293
+19
726
+14
2,285
+2
Business equipment finance (£m)
227
+6
624
+6
2,581
+7
Car finance (£m)
629
-2
2,243
+4
9,531
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
36
-41
60
-50
549
+20
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,153
-7
3,746
0
15,477
+4
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
579
+24
1,620
+21
5,839
+14
Sales finance (£m)
752
-8
2,329
+4
9,436
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
403
+1
1,022
+5
3,809
+6
Operating leasing (£m)
511
-12
1,624
-4
6,755
0
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,225
+1
4,162
+5
16,924
+8
Other finance (£m)
493
+45
1,053
+19
4,281
+5
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.