Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Strengthens German Market Presence with Merca Leasing Acquisition

Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Strengthens German Market Presence with Merca Leasing Acquisition

(IN BRIEF) Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Merca Leasing, a leading independent leasing company in Germany, pending regulatory approvals. This acquisition aligns with CAL&F’s strategy to enhance its presence in the European leasing market, particularly in Germany, where leasing is increasingly recognized as a key enabler for SMEs. Founded in 1989, Merca Leasing specializes in providing tailored leasing solutions to SMEs and manages assets valued at approximately €750 million. The acquisition will allow CAL&F to expand its offerings in Mobility, IT, and Machine Tools while strengthening its direct sales channel. The deal is expected to be finalized in early 2025.

(PRESS RELEASE) MONTROUGE, 31-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) has announced a significant strategic move in the German market by signing a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire Merca Leasing, one of Germany’s leading independent leasing companies. The acquisition is pending necessary regulatory approvals and aligns with CAL&F’s strategy to enhance its footprint within the dynamic European leasing landscape, particularly in Germany.

Established in 1989 and headquartered in Kronberg near Frankfurt, Merca Leasing operates additional branches in Hamburg and Berlin. The company primarily caters to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering customized leasing solutions with a strong emphasis on financing industrial equipment through a direct sales approach. With over three decades of experience as a partner to the German manufacturing sector, Merca Leasing manages leasing assets valued at approximately €750 million in outstanding receivables.

CAL&F has been active in the German factoring market for over 30 years and expanded into leasing in 2020 with its CAL&F Germany branch. The acquisition of Merca Leasing represents a pivotal opportunity for CAL&F to deepen its presence in a robust leasing market where three out of four companies are incorporating leasing solutions into their investment strategies. Leasing is increasingly viewed as a critical enabler of innovation for SMEs.

By integrating Merca Leasing’s expertise, CAL&F aims to accelerate its development across Europe and expand its offerings, particularly in sectors such as Mobility, IT, and Machine Tools. This acquisition also positions CAL&F to enhance its direct sales capabilities while exploring new distribution channels like the Vendor Program.

The agreement was finalized on October 30, following consultations with employee representatives. The transaction is expected to close in early 2025, contingent upon receiving approvals from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the German Competition Authority.

Hervé Varillon, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring, commented, “This acquisition represents a vital step for CAL&F, allowing us to integrate a stable and profitable operation in Germany and develop a vendor offering. The move aligns perfectly with our strategy as outlined in our MTP 2025 plan, particularly in enhancing our expertise in Mobility and accelerating growth in the fragmented German market, which is a key priority for our group.”

Ulrich Helmdach, Founder and CEO of Merca Leasing, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “From our initial discussions, it was clear that we share common values and a vision for Merca Leasing’s strategic direction. With the support of the Crédit Agricole Group, our growth ambitions will be reinforced. I am pleased to announce that Andreas Werner, who has been with Merca since 2013, will remain part of the management team to ensure a smooth transition for our employees, clients, and partners.”

About Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring

With a presence in 10 countries in Europe, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) is a key player in Leasing, Factoring and Energy and Infrastructure Financing, in France and Europe. CAL&F offers specialised financing for corporates, professionals, farmers, and local authorities.

Key figures (end of 2023): France and international: 257,000 clients – 2,703 employees – €32bn in outstanding financed (of which 28% abroad).

For further information: www.ca-leasingfactoring.com

About Merca Leasing GmbH

Merca Leasing was founded in 1989 by Kredietbank N.V., Brussels, Belgium, & U. Helmdach and integrated into the KBC Bank & Insurance Group in 1998. In 2012, the KBC Lease (Deutschland) Group was taken over by the management, renamed Merca Leasing again, based in Kronberg / Taunus (near Frankfurt).

The group offers financing solutions for business-critical movable equipment focusing on production machinery through leasing, hire purchase, sale-and-lease-back, retrofitting funding services and forfaiting solutions (through Merca Vendor).

Key figures (end of 2023): 37 employees – €240m production – €420m Portfolio (actual outstanding)

For further information: www.merca-leasing.de

Media Contact:

Sophie Leplus
sophie.leplus@ca-lf.com
+33 (0)1 43 23 30 87 / +33 (0)6 24 87 16

SOURCE: Crédit Agricole S.A.