Refinance machinery, plant and production equipment — or restructure the finance already sitting against it — through Oak Leasing's panel of 40+ European funders. One point of contact across 30+ countries, with our arrangement fee paid by the funder, not by you.
Increased capacity through a large independent European funder. For larger refinance and sale and leaseback transactions, Oak Leasing has arranged a dedicated facility with a large independent funder, now extended to up to €100 million per transaction — machinery, marine, aviation, heavy plant and multi-asset portfolios across Europe.
View the €100m Facility →Equipment refinance is a way for a business to raise capital against equipment it already owns or is already financing. A funder either advances a secured facility against the equipment, or buys it and leases it straight back. The business receives a lump sum, the equipment stays on site and in use, and the cost is repaid in fixed instalments over an agreed term — typically two to five years.
Oak Leasing is a bespoke pan-European funding facilitator for equipment finance across the UK and Europe, established in 1992. We do not lend; we arrange. We match each refinance to the funder best placed to price it — bank-owned lessors, captive finance companies, specialist asset funders and alternative credit providers — and manage it from first enquiry to activation.
Larger transactions from €500,000 up to €100 million — single high-value assets or portfolios — are placed through our European Asset Refinance facility, backed by a large independent European funder.
Refinance puts idle equity back to work without diluting ownership or drawing on the wider banking relationship.
Equipment bought outright from reserves can be funded retrospectively, restoring the cash position while the asset keeps working.
Several leases or hire purchase agreements across different funders can be settled and replaced by a single facility with one payment and one renewal date.
Release equity to fund a new contract, a site expansion, a management buy-out or the acquisition of a competitor.
Move equipment finance away from an overdraft or covenant-heavy bank line to a dedicated asset-backed facility with a fixed repayment profile.
Rental profiles can be structured around trading cycles — common in agriculture, construction and seasonal manufacturing.
Refinance equipment held by subsidiaries in several European countries through one coordinated process and a single point of contact.
The right structure depends on who owns the equipment today, what is owed against it, and how the transaction needs to sit on the balance sheet.
| Structure | How it works | Ownership | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset refinance | A secured facility against equipment you own. The funder takes a charge and advances a percentage of assessed value. | Stays with you; charge released at final payment | Businesses that want to keep title and raise capital against unencumbered equipment |
| Sale and leaseback | The funder buys the equipment at an agreed value and leases it straight back to you for continued use. | Transfers to the funder; purchase, extend or return options at term end | Maximum capital release from owned equipment |
| Refinance of existing finance | An existing lease, HP or loan is settled from the new advance, with surplus equity paid to you. | As per the new agreement | Equipment part-way through a finance term with equity built up |
| Retrospective funding | Recently purchased equipment is funded after the event, against the original invoice. | Depends on structure — refinance or leaseback | Capex recently paid from cash reserves |
Balance sheet treatment under IFRS 16 and FRS 102 is transaction-specific. Oak Leasing recommends structures only; take independent accounting advice before committing. See European Equipment Finance — Structures Compared.
Funders favour identifiable hard assets with serial numbers, a working life beyond the proposed term, and an established resale market. Mixed portfolios across several asset types and sites are welcome.
Tell us what the equipment is, where it sits and what the capital is for. No credit search at this stage.
Asset list, proof of ownership, any existing finance settlement figures and recent accounts.
We present to the funders on our panel best suited to the assets, jurisdiction and structure.
Indicative terms confirm advance, rate, term and structure; the funder verifies value where required.
Documents signed, any existing finance settled, and net proceeds paid to your account.
Transactions from €500,000 up to €100 million per deal — marine, aviation, heavy construction, specialist plant and multi-asset portfolios — are handled through our dedicated facility with a large independent European funder, with the balance sheet and cross-border reach to complete them. Not sure which route fits? Ask us; we will direct it.
Equipment refinance is a way for a business to raise capital against equipment it already owns or is already financing. A funder either advances a secured facility against the equipment or buys it and leases it back. The business receives a lump sum, keeps using the equipment, and repays in fixed instalments over an agreed term, typically two to five years.
It depends on the equipment's assessed value, age, condition and resale market. As a guide, funders typically advance between 50% and 80% of assessed value on an asset refinance, while a sale and leaseback is based on the agreed sale value. Any outstanding finance is settled from the advance and the balance is paid to you.
Yes, provided the equipment is worth more than the amount outstanding. The new funder settles the existing agreement using a settlement figure from the current lender and pays the remaining equity to you. Negative equity positions cannot be refinanced.
Yes. This is known as retrospective funding. Funders generally prefer a recent purchase invoice, and appetite reduces as the purchase date gets older, so it is worth raising early. The equipment can be funded as an asset refinance or as a sale and leaseback.
Oak Leasing typically arranges equipment refinance from €100,000 to €10 million, or the sterling equivalent, for single assets or multi-asset portfolios. Larger transactions from €500,000 up to €100 million per deal are placed through our dedicated European Asset Refinance facility, backed by a large independent European funder.
Oak Leasing arranges equipment finance across 30+ European countries, including the United Kingdom, EU member states, Norway and Switzerland. Cross-border structures, such as a group refinancing equipment held by subsidiaries in several countries, are within scope, although they can extend timelines and third-party costs.
An asset refinance usually keeps the equipment on the balance sheet with a corresponding financial liability. A sale and leaseback under IFRS 16 is only treated as a sale if the transfer meets IFRS 15 criteria; otherwise it is accounted for as secured borrowing. Businesses reporting under FRS 102 follow Section 20. Treatment is transaction-specific, so take independent accounting advice before committing.
Indicative terms are usually available within a few business days of receiving a complete information pack. Straightforward single-jurisdiction transactions typically complete within two to six weeks. Cross-border transactions, large portfolios and deals requiring independent valuation can take longer.
Oak Leasing's arrangement fee is paid by the funder on activation, not by the client. The borrower pays the funder's rental or interest cost and any third-party costs such as valuation, legal or registration fees. All costs are set out in the terms before any commitment is made.
A list of the equipment with make, model, age and serial numbers; proof of ownership such as purchase invoices; settlement figures for any existing finance; the latest audited accounts plus recent management accounts; and a short explanation of what the capital will be used for.
No. Oak Leasing is a bespoke pan-European funding facilitator for equipment finance across the UK and Europe, established in 1992. We work with 40+ funders — bank-owned lessors, captive finance companies, specialist asset funders and alternative credit providers — and arrange each transaction with the funder best suited to it. Our fees are paid by funders on activation.
No obligation, no upfront cost, and no credit search at enquiry stage. Tell us about the equipment and we will confirm whether it fits funder appetite.
Related: European Equipment Leasing Hub · Large-Asset Refinance · Hire Purchase · Euro Leasing Calculator