The total amount of leasing companies’ claims under financial and operational lease stood at 4.129 billion leva (6.4% of GDP) as at the end of March 2008. The figure rose by 85.8% compared to the end of March 2007 (2.222 bln leva, 3.9% of GDP) data of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) show.

Claims under financial lease contracts amounted to BGN 4.066 billion at the end of March 2008, from BGN 2.179 billion at the end of March 2007.

Their amount increased by 86.6% over this period, and their relative share in the total volume of claims under financial lease contracts grew from 98.1% to 98.5%. The total amount of the financial lease contracts concluded during the first quarter of 2008 was amounted to 872.7 million leva, up by 98.2% compared to the amount in the same period of 2007.

Claims under contracts for financial lease of cars amounted to 1.395 bln leva at the end of March 2008. Compared to March 2007, their volume increased by 101.4%, while their share in the total amount of claims under financial lease grew from 31.8% to 34.3%.

Claims under contracts for financial lease of machinery and industrial equipment rose by 65.1% to 1.145 bln leva at the end of March 2008. Their share dropped from 31.8% at the end of March 2007 to 28.2% a year later. Claims under contracts for financial lease of transport and commercial vehicles increased by 105.3% to 1.119 bln leva at the end of March 2008. Their relative share rose from 25% at the end of March 2007 to 27.5% at the end of March 2008.

Claims under financial lease contracts of the non-financial corporations sector came to 3.676 bln leva billion at the end of March 2008, up 93.7% year on year. Their relative share in the total volume of claims under financial lease grew from 87.1% at the end of March 2007 to 90.4% at the end of March 2008. Claims on the households and NPISHs sector picked up 33.4% in this period to BGN 351.7 million, and their share in the total amount of claims on residents decreased from 12.1% to 8.7%.

The share of claims under financial lease contracts with maturity of over one up to five years grew from 84.5% at the end of March 2007 to 85.5% a year later. Their amount increased by 88.6% in this period to 3.475 bln leva. The share of claims with maturity of over five years increased from 10.4% at the end of March 2007 to 11.6% at the end of March 2008. Their amount rose by 108% to 473.2 mln leva.

Lease companies’ liabilities came to 5.113 bln leva as at the end of March 2008, 85% of which are in the form of loans. Their amount increased by 94.4% to 4.346 bln leva at the end of March 2008. Non-residents obtained the major portion of loans at 90.8%. The total amount of debt securities issued stood at 113.3 mln leva at the end of March 2008, up 46.2% compared to the year-ago period.