Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring to acquire Merca Leasing

Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) has signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire Merca Leasing, a well-established German leasing company based in Kronberg, near Frankfurt, with branches in Hamburg and Berlin.

The acquisition, still subject to regulatory approvals, aligns with CAL&F’s strategy to enhance its offerings within the European market and expand its footprint in the robust German leasing sector.

Founded in 1989, Merca Leasing is recognised as one of the top ten independent leasing companies in Germany, primarily catering to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Known for its expertise in financing industrial equipment, Merca Leasing serves a client base with custom-tailored leasing solutions, facilitated through its direct sales approach. With over €750 million in leasing assets under management, Merca has played a crucial role in supporting Germany’s manufacturing industry for over three decades.

With this acquisition, CAL&F aims to reinforce its position in Germany, a country where leasing is a cornerstone of business investment; three out of four companies in Germany incorporate leasing into their investment strategies. By acquiring Merca Leasing, CAL&F not only strengthens its service portfolio but also accelerates its growth in sectors like mobility, IT, and machine-tools, which are essential to the German market.

“Today, with Frédéric Madalle, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CAL&F, we are carrying out an important operation for Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Group,” said Hervé Varillon, CEO of CAL&F.

“This acquisition allows us to integrate a stable and profitable activity within Germany’s direct channel and develop a Vendor offering.

“The acquisition of Merca Leasing is fully in line with our strategy and the implementation of our MTP 2025 ‘Transitions to the Future’ for two main raisons: it allows us to strengthen our expertise and service offering in mobility as well as to accelerate our growth in a very fragmented German market which constitutes one of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Group’s development priorities,” he added.

Merca Leasing’s founder and CEO, Ulrich Helmdach, echoed the shared vision between the two companies, stating, “From the first exchanges, it was clear that we share common values and that the views on Merca Leasing’s strategic positioning and development are aligned for the benefit of our customers.

“Merca’s ambition for growth will be strengthened and sustained with the backing of the Crédit Agricole Group. Andreas Werner, who has been with Merca since 2013, will continue and become part of the management to ensure continuity for employees, clients, and partners.”

Pending necessary approvals from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the German Competition Authority, the transaction is anticipated to close in early 2025.