Tailored financial solutions

akf bank – a partner of the engineering sector that is very much in
demand

akf bank’s success in the engineering sector could again be distinctly advanced in 2011 with the Wuppertal-based, special financer working more closely together with manufacturers and dealers in the machine tools industry than ever before. The tailored financial solutions offered by akf bank are right in line with the needs of the segment.

“More and more customers in the engineering sector acknowledge that thanks to our high degree of expertise in this business, we are able to submit individual finance offers that are tailored to meet their specific requirements”, says Peter Fischermann, Director of “industriefinanz” at akf bank. Although the medium-sized financial services provider only intensified its activities in the engineering sector three years ago, the level of new business in this segment has already more than trebled. The volume of newly financed industrial machines was clearly in the three-digit million euro range in 2011. Mid-term, akf bank aims to again double its volume of business in the engineering sector.

Extending financial potential
The special financer of small and medium-sized enterprises focuses on the funding of high quality, cost-intensive machinery and thereby on the core investments of its customers. Due to the great significance of these assets for the companies, the appropriate financial solutions are created and structured individually with the customers and adapted to suit the specific circumstances and business processes. This means that the credit lines agreed between the house banks and their customers are in no way restricted. Indeed, quite the contrary is true: the services provided by akf bank allow customers an extension of their financial potential and assist in providing them more stability in the market. Even the most recent market study from TNS Infratest Finanzforschung, commissioned by the Federation of German Leasing Companies (BDI) and entitled “Leasing in Deutschland 2011”, underlines just how right the akf Group has been with this approach. This study reports that leasing was considered much more as an option than previously as a consequence of the financial crisis. Indeed, some 78% of companies in Germany last year considered making their investments using this form of finance. In 2007 this figure was running at only 71%. Particularly smaller companies – less than 20 employees – were far more open to the leasing option according to the study.

Reliable and competent mid-cap financer
In view of the enhanced reputation of akf Group as a special financer, Peter Fischermann, Director of “industriefinanz”, is optimistic about being able to achieve substantial market shares in the engineering sector in the future, too. “Many new companies in recent years have grown to appreciate the flexibility and variability of this type of finance that allows rapid adaptations to the company’s own business development. However, we also realise that many of our customers trust in us as a reliable and competent mid-cap financer against the background of our strong shareholders: the family-owned Vorwerk Group and the Bankhaus Lampe Group – a member of the Oetker Group”, summarises Fischermann.

On the occasion of the METAV 2012 (International Trade Fair for Manufacturing Technology and Automation) in Düsseldorf (28th February till 3rd March), akf Group is once again looking forward to a strong response to its wide range of finance offers for the engineering sector. Visitors to the METAV 2012 will find the Wuppertal-based special financer in Hall 17/C47.

Exhibitor Data Sheet