Latest news

What are the latest developments in the equipment leasing market? What are our customers doing? What’s the latest news about Amstel Lease? Read it here.

Amstel Lease: Europe’s Best Leasing Company for SMEs

Utrecht, the Netherlands, 11.12.2009

Presentation of Leasing Life Award during Asset Finance Conference in Berlin

On 10 December, Amstel Lease won the 2009 Leasing Life Award as Europe’s Best Leasing Company for SMEs. The award was presented during the international Asset Finance Conference in Berlin, and the nominees included top leasing companies ING Lease, Parfip Lease and UniCredit Leasing. The jury particularly commended the quality of the services Amstel Lease provides to customers of its parent bank, ABN Amro. Amstel Lease CEO Frank Stienstra, commenting on the award: 'Although we're obviously extremely proud, we would like to dedicate this award to our loyal customers, without whom we never would have been able to achieve this'.

In its assessment, the jury – consisting of international business leaders from the leasing sector – lauded the countercyclical marketing strategy developed by Amstel Lease in order to deal with the difficult market conditions. A key component of this strategy was a multimedia approach, including a radio campaign, an ingenious plan to finance all types of operating assets, a doubling of the number of customer visits, and the launch of an electronic newsletter.

Amstel Lease’s energetic approach has allowed the company to maintain its new business volume in the SME sector at the 2008 level, with the number of customers even increasing by 10% and the number of employees remaining level. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering the major cuts in investment throughout the SME sector and the fact that a large number of Amstel Lease's customers operate in seriously affected industries such as transport and construction.

Philip Kok, Director of Sales for the SME sector: 'Our slogan is THINK BIGGER, and in recent years we have been focusing particularly on growth. In the current investment climate, the meaning of THINK BIGGER has shifted from growth to 'think differently'. We would encourage all businesses to think outside the box: the current economy has forced them to think about financing in a more creative and critical way. Leasing, for example, can provide a number of benefits that are particularly relevant right now, such as balance sheet management and increasing working capital. THINK BIGGER is more than a slogan to us – it's a principle we apply every day. We have strengthened our relationships with our clients, helping them to determine what financing solution suits them best. This requires sophisticated knowledge of finance, and we make a point of sharing that knowledge with our clients at seminars, in reports and in newsletters. However, THINK BIGGER is expressed mainly through the way we support businesses in difficult financial situations – together with them, we review measures that provide them with a little relief and help them through these tough times. This demonstrates that our relationships with our clients are as vital to us as ever – it's all part of THINKING BIGGER!"

Amstel Lease, which celebrated its 40^th anniversary in 2008, is one of the largest leasing companies in the Netherlands. Specialized in equipment lease and engaged in financing fixed operating assets through customized leasing plans, the company employs 150 people with a turnover for 2008 of EUR 1.2 billion. Amstel Lease Maatschappij N.V. is a separate and independent subsidiary of ABN Amro. For more information, please visit: www.amstellease.nl

---END OF PRESS RELEASE ---

Note for the Editor (not for publication):

For more information, please contact Robert Engel, Amstel Lease PR & Communications Manager. Mobile: +31 6 109 372 12, or send an e-mail to robert.jan.engel@nl.amstellease.com

Amstel Lease the first Dutch company to choose the SAP lease module

Utrecht, 12.4.2007

Amstel Lease, one of the market leaders in leasing business equipment, is the first Dutch company to choose the SAP Leasing solution. The contract for this was officially signed on 29 November by Maurice Koot, CFO Amstel Lease, and Marinus ter Laak, Managing Director SAP Nederland. The leasing solution of SAP gives Amstel Lease the opportunity to realize its ambitions further.

Strategic ambitions:
SAP software supports strategic ambitions. Maurice Koot, with final responsibility for the implementation of SAP at Amstel Lease, says: “The successful implementation of SAP is extremely important to us. It will help us to achieve our strategic objectives. What’s more, thanks to the flexible options offered by SAP Leasing we can meet the wishes of our clients much faster.” The computer systems at Amstel Lease comprise of a number of legacy systems that are due for replacement. This, linked to the need for more flexible systems, led to the choice for SAP.

Marinus ter Laak, Managing Director SAP Nederland, says about this agreement: “We are delighted that Amstel Lease has decided on SAP Leasing. Integration of end-to-end processes generates major efficiency and cost benefits for Amstel Lease. It also shortens the time-to-market of new financial products and increases transparency towards customers.”

Partners in the project:
The choice of SAP was the result of an intensive selection of software packages, with the support of KPMG. IBM is helping Amstel Lease with the implementation of the software. One of the most important considerations for this decision is the fact that IBM has brought together specific knowledge on leasing in a European Leasing Competence Centre in Germany. The implementation of SAP is planned for the last quarter of 2007.

Glasshouse grower buys largest Rolls-Royce in the Netherlands

Utrecht, 10.4.2007

On Tuesday 20 June, tomato grower Oussoren in Zevenhuizen installed a Rolls-Royce engine with a capacity of 5.1 megawatt. This is the first combined heat and power system in the Netherlands to have such a huge capacity.

The impressive combined heat and power engine is 1 metres long and 4.70 metres high. The pistons have a diameter of 35 centimetres. Electrical efficiency, according to the supplier, is 46.3 per cent.

Amstel Lease has financed this equipment by means of an innovative form of finance: the “Environmental Lease”. Amstel Lease wishes the Oussoren family every success with their unique undertaking.

2006 top year for Dutch truck sector

Utrecht, 15.1.2007

Amsterdam, 15 January 2007 – The Dutch truck sector can look back on a good year. Almost 65,000 delivery vehicles and more than 20,000 heavy goods vehicles were sold. Sales of delivery vehicles was down by more than 2% compared to 2005 levels, but with heavy goods vehicles there was an increase of 36 % compared to 2005 (14,800). This figure makes 2006 a record year for the truck sector (Source: RAI Association).

Amendment to the Collection Guidelines from 1 January 2007

Utrecht, 29.12.2006

The Hague, 29 December 2006 -- The Government Gazette of 27 December last year contains details of the amendment to the Collection Guidelines 1990 (with effect from 1 January 2007). This amendment also contains the agreement made with the Ministry of Finance on the consequences of terminating operational leases.
To be found in: Government Gazette 27 December 2006, no. 251, page 23 et seq. on the decision to amend the Collection Guidelines 1990 dated 20 December 2006, no. CPP2006/2760M.