OREANDA-NEWS. On August 19, 2009 Russian leading automotive leasing company Europlan announced financial and operational results for the first half of 2009. With the significant slowdown of the national economy and the leasing industry, Europlan marked lower new business activity comparing to the previous year, reported the press-centre of Europlan.

For the first 6 months of 2009 there were 2 594 lease agreements signed with 1 598 lessees – Russian companies, enterprises and entrepreneurs, who leased vehicles and various equipment in total amount of over US3,6 million (or RUR 109,3 million).

In the first half of 2009 the share of transport and self-propelled machines presented 99,2% of the total volume of new business. Europlan leased 1 084 automobiles and 678 trucks, buses, special transport and self-propelled machines. Vehicles of 151 brands were purchased from 771 automobile dealers and other vendors. Leasing company Europlan continued to hold national leadership in automotive leasing segment, being named number #1 by ratings of association Rosleasing (a member of Leaseurope), rating agency ‘Expert RA’ and ’Leasing review’ journal.

Leasing agreements were concluded in all Russian federal districts. An average leasing term equaled to 25 months. Entrepreneurs and companies with less than 100 employees took advantage of more than 75% of leasing volume done by Europlan in the first half of 2009.

6 months of 2009 were also marked by an increase of Europlan s business capitalization. Thus, on 01.07.2009 the company s own capital reached 134 million US dollars with total assets equaling to 520 million US dollars. Preliminary total revenues from the leasing activity for the first half of 2009 amounted to 58 million US dollars according to US GAAP.

According to Europlan business development director, Alexander Mikhailov, Russian leasing market has suffered a lot. In the first quarter of 2009, market volume dropped down by more than 60% comparing with the previous quarter, Rosleasing association confirmed. “Europlans results show that we overcome market pessimism concentrating efforts in the most transparent and demand-decline resistant segment, in autoleasing, - he noted. – Being a financial partner of leading car makers we prove leasing a real business tool for Russian companies even in the current economic situation”.