Impuls Leasing, which launched domestic operations last May, granted financing worth 127m euros by the end of last year, a figure that will rapidly propel the Austrian-based leasing firm into the top 10. In the first 9 months of 2007, the company ranked bottom among the top 10 granted 135m-euro financing. During the same period, the market leader granted financing worth 350m euros.

Last year, Impuls Leasing sealed around 9,000 contracts. The company specialises in car leasing, which accounts for 65% of overall financing, while 30% accounted for the acquisition of equipment and 5% for industrial equipment and real estate project development.

"We financed 3 real estate projects worth 5m euros, with the largest worth 4m euros, which entailed the construction of a car showroom. The other two deals involved the acquisition of land and the construction of an industrial facility. It's quite a strong start and we're now focusing on the development of real estate because this type of financing is significantly different from car leasing," says Razvan Diaconescu, general manager of Impuls Leasing.

Diaconescu, 33, was a sales manager at Volksbank Leasing between 2002 and 2004 and then a company manager, in charge of sales activities, a position he held until spring 2007, when he took over Impuls Leasing's management. Impuls Leasing is also run by, Austrian born Michael Unterguggenberger (age 38), also a former manager of Volksbank Leasing.

Diaconescu believes the high turnover posted in the first 7 months since domestic operations started is down to the good timing of the company's entrance onto the leasing market and by the employees' expertise.

Diaconescu says Impuls Leasing will continue to rely on car leasing, which is currently the market driver, but he expects that the growth rate will slow down on this segment in the coming years.