The BMW Group is strengthening its position in the growing Chinese auto market with the acquisition of Herald International Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (Herald Leasing), one of the countryâs leading leasing providers.
With this move, the company is responding to the increasing importance of the emerging leasing business in the worldâs largest vehicle market and laying the foundation for further growth.
The BMW Group has therefore agreed with investor PAG Asia Capital to acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Herald Leasing. The parties have agreed not to disclose any contractual details.
âWe firmly believe in the medium and long-term potential of the Chinese auto market and are preparing for the next phase of growth,â said Erich Ebner von Eschenbach, head of BMW Group Financial Services. âNew business areas, such as leasing and fleet management, will be an increasingly important part of this.â
One of Herald Leasingâs strengths is its broad geographic base in China, which is essential to fully exploit the future business potential: To be able to offer leasing services across the country, companies in China need local business permits, as well as a national leasing licence. Herald Leasing is already present in 58 Chinese cities and offers leasing at all these locations.
With its wide coverage, Herald Leasing is one of the largest leasing providers in China. The company, which was founded in 2009, employs around 250 people and reported revenues of RMB 208 million for the 2014 financial year.
The acquisition of Herald Leasing will complement BMW Financial Servicesâ local financing by adding leasing options.
China is the largest single market for the BMW Group worldwide. As the leading manufacturer of premium vehicles, the company delivered around 343,000 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles to customers in the first nine months of 2015.
