Asset finance: Of growing importance

According to the study, conducted among the global top 80 machine tools Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), 84% of respondents reported that their customers are experiencing increased difficulty in accessing traditional bank loans to fund equipment acquisition.

More than 60% of the surveyed OEMs had witnessed rising demand for financing options from their customers over the last two years. Some 64% confirmed that asset finance has been 'highly important' in enabling their customers to acquire equipment in the two previous years. Leasing, specifically, has been highlighted by 55% of the OEM respondents as the principal funding source used by machine tools users.

Brian Foster, Head of Industry at SFS, says: "OEMs who can help customers overcome their financial bottleneck by providing an integrated asset financing or leasing facility will secure themselves a distinct competitive advantage.”