Corona strengthens leasing

A sustainably minded vintner in the Rhine Valley. An innovative recycling center near Winterthur. And a mechanical engineering company that supplies the whole world from Burgdorf. Three companies of different sizes in different industries - all of them using leasing in their own way. The reasons why they rely on leasing are described by the companies in the following video or in a detailed article in the ORGANISATOR print edition 1-2/2021.

Leasing in the MEM industry

Around 40 percent of companies in the MEM industries use the financing instrument, according to a study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW. The growing importance for industry is also reflected in the Swiss leasing market: in 2019, new business in industrial machinery and production equipment again grew strongly. The Corona crisis provided a further boost in 2020, as the liquidity situation in many companies is tight.

Steep demands

The sun shines so generously on the Buchberg that Roman Rutishauser doesn't even wear a jacket when he prunes the vines on the seven hectares of his vineyard. It is precisely this mild climate in the Rhine Valley that has provided the winegrowing family with expressive grapes for three generations. The extremely steep slope on the poor, clayey soil provides the right character, but demands just as much sweat from the 36-year-old as it did from his father and grandfather before him. A four-wheel drive vehicle specially developed for vineyards on slopes, which makes cultivation safer and plant protection more efficient, was on the wish list for 2020. Even under normal circumstances, 80,000 Swiss francs would not be an easy budget item to manage. But then Corona came along: precisely in the low-turnover months from January to March, the purchase of the bottles, packaging, labeling, and marketing cost 35,000 francs. In view of the lack of liquidity, the purchase of the vineyard vehicle became a distant prospect. Unfortunately, because the Federal Office for Agriculture had held out the prospect of an incentive contribution for investments in environmentally friendly technology - but only for 2020.

Progressive leasing structure

An encounter got the ball rolling again. Marc Hintermeister, Head of Leasing at Raiffeisen Switzerland, had attended a tasting session and presented a customized leasing solution in the current Covid environment. It was possible to negotiate with the South Tyrolean supplier to trigger the order before the end of the year by making a down payment. Thanks to the progressive leasing structure, the winemaker pays a low installment for the time being - which will be increased as soon as the wine business returns to normal. The Raiffeisen expert takes the long view: "This ensured the further development of the business." And thus also the prospects of success for the next wine year. The purchase also allows Rutishauser to plan with certainty - according to a study by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), one of the main reasons why Swiss SMEs use leasing to optimize their cash management. As a rule, the contracts are designed for two-thirds of the economic useful life.

High proportion of commercial vehicles

Corona also made itself felt at the recycling plant of Hs. Mühle Recycling AG in Riet near Winterthur, although the pandemic also provided balance. In this uncertain year of all years, extraordinary investments were on the agenda. A five-million construction project with a comprehensive waste disposal road tied up liquid funds. At the same time, however, the fleet of vehicles was to be renewed: three trucks, an excavator, two forklifts. In the process, owner Armin Mühle is counting on the electrification of his fleet to reduce the emissions of his operation.

His customer advisor at the Raiffeisen branch in Winterthur put him in touch with the leasing experts. For Armin Mühle, the first approach to the "pay as you earn" method. Commercial vehicles and construction machinery are among the most important categories in the Swiss leasing market, as the statistics of the Swiss Leasing Association (SLV) show: one-third of capital equipment consists of trucks and vans, excavators, and other construction machinery. Mühle's package was quickly put together: The bank approved the installation of an outline limit of 1.5 million Swiss francs for the acquisition. Thus, Armin Mühle expanded the vehicle fleet in the year of the new building without having to tap equity capital.

Global and local

The bestseller of the traditional Aebi brand has just rolled out of the factory in Burgdorf: the Terratrac. The red slope implement carrier looks robust and effortlessly overcomes an obstacle on the test course. "World class on steep slopes," it is said of him, and apparently the Swiss farming community agrees. After all, agriculture remains the most important customer for the machinery and equipment brand, whose products can be used all year round thanks to a wide range of attachments. However, farmers' earnings are on shaky ground due to the collapse in prices. Cost pressure and dependence on expensive machinery are increasing. That's why more and more farmers are leasing. The rates can be adjusted to the cycles of direct payments or crop yields.

Vendor partnership for the first time

In Burgdorf, not far from today's factory site, the history of Aebi began in 1883 with the first workshop. Further development is still a top priority here. Not only in the modification of the models - also in the payment modalities. For the first time, sales rely on a vendor partnership to pre-finance equipment at dealers. "The three-phase model is still new for everyone involved," explains Urs Ritter, CEO of Aebi Schmidt Switzerland, "but initial experience has been good." Dealers can use the model to add Aebi implements, which they will not sell until next year, to their inventory and showroom for demonstration purposes already. The agricultural machines, which retain their value, often have a high residual value at the end of their life. When a new purchase is made, this value can be incorporated into the new leasing contract.

Author: 
Roland Schäfli is Content Producer & Corporate Writer at Raiffeisen Switzerland.

This online leasing calculator can also be used to obtain an initial quote:
www.raiffeisen.ch/leasingrechner