Strong growth: CHG-MERIDIAN generates new business volume of €2.83 billion in FY 2024

In 2024, CHG-MERIDIAN generated lease originations worth €2.83 billion. This represents a year-on-year increase of 16 percent (2023: €2.45 billion). Pre-tax profit from ordinary activities rose to €175 million, representing growth of 7 percent, although it was impacted by negative currency effects. For comparison: Assuming constant exchange rates, the year-on-year increase would have been 33 percent. At the same time, the Group’s technology portfolio in the IT, healthcare, and industrial asset categories grew to total assets under management worth €11.73 billion – representing a year-on-year increase of 17 percent, based on original acquisition cost (2023: €10.01 billion).

“These results make 2024 the most successful year in our company’s more than 45-year history,” emphasizes Mathias Wagner, CEO of CHG-MERIDIAN. “Technology is becoming ever more important for our customers’ business around the world. Investing in technology projects such as a digital infrastructure with high-performance IT hardware is no longer optional for companies and institutions but rather a ‘must’ – especially when it comes to driving innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence and securing future success in the digital age.” At the same time, businesses need to be increasingly disciplined in managing their cash flow, costs, and liquidity in order to remain competitive in an environment characterized by global economic crises and challenges. This trend holds huge opportunities for CHG-MERIDIAN.

Circular tech solutions that facilitate an efficient and sustainable use of technology and resources are beneficial both economically and environmentally.

In line with its strategic focus, CHG-MERIDIAN supports around 13,000 customers and partners worldwide with solutions that span the entire lifecycle of their technology assets. Customers can choose between different flexible usage models such as leasing, renting, or device-as-a-service. CHG-MERIDIAN handles not only the financing but also provides a wide range of services during the usage period and takes care of the professional refurbishment and remarketing of devices.

In 2024, CHG-MERIDIAN was able to remarket around one million devices groupwide for a second usage cycle with this approach. This corresponds to around 94 percent of all IT lease returns.

CHG-MERIDIAN currently offers its solutions across 30 countries and five continents, but has its sights set on further expansion. “We are already generating over 60 percent of our business outside Germany and are constantly driving forward our expansion,” says Wagner. “In 2024, we further broadened our international presence, for example by taking over the portfolio of Maia Financial in Australia and acquiring Meridian Leasing Corporation in the US. We also expanded our partnership with the Japanese leasing company SMFL to include China, Malaysia, and Thailand as additional markets.” The Group’s objective is to be active in markets and segments that are of relevance to its customer base.

CHG-MERIDIAN aims for broad diversification not only in its footprint but also in its offerings. Alongside its core business, the Group’s portfolio includes the global device-as-a-service solution devicenow and the Berlin-based start-up circulee, which specializes in B2B remarketing of refurbished IT.

With this approach, the Group is well positioned to respond to the growing demand for circular tech, while always keeping the needs of its customers front and center and supporting them with state-of-the-art technology management.