An eyeful for Premier Leasing
By Georgina Lavers
07 December 2011
Lease broker Premier Leasing & Finance
(PLF) has signed a two year contract with the Association of
Optometrists (AOP) to be the sole provider of finance products for
all of their members from January 2012.
The lease and loan products will be for a
range of optical equipment, including OPG machines, sight testing
chairs and all other practice equipment, as well as finance for lab
refurbishment, vehicles and IT equipment.
The transaction value will range from £1,000
to £250,000, and PLF expect to see £1m in annual contracts as a
result of the arrangement.
Greg Jones, the managing director of PLF, said
optometry tended to be a good market for leasing.
“Opticians are regarded as an excellent
risk from a credit point of view - a mid-value OPG machine
typically costs £45,000, and nearly all funders are keen to
underwrite business in this quality market. Special terms have been
agreed with several banks and lessors, and this will enable us to
offer highly competitive terms to AOP members.”
John Whitewood, previously the managing
director of Exclusive Benefits PLC, is currently obtaining
affiliation programmes, such as the optometry contract, for PLF.
Tim Jones, who was made head of PLF’s Manchester office at the same
time that
PLF signed the biggest deal in its 18-year history, was
appointed as a director earlier this year, opening up a Devon
branch of PLF.