BDL

What BDL does

BDL — the Bundesverband Deutscher Leasing-Unternehmen e.V. (Federal Association of German Leasing Companies) — is a non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1972 and headquartered at Linkstraße 2, Berlin. It functions as the central industry voice for the German leasing sector, with approximately 230 member companies of which around 140 are leasing companies representing over 90% of the German leasing market volume. The German equipment-leasing market reached €83.12 billion in new business in 2025, with an equipment-leasing penetration rate of 26.6%, equivalent to roughly one-third of all equipment investments in Germany.

BDL's service portfolio centers on four pillars: (1) regulatory and policy advocacy with German legislators and public authorities; (2) market data and research, including the annual Leasing-Report and statistics produced in partnership with the German Economic Institute (IW Köln) since 2021; (3) member education via the BDL-Akademie seminar program; and (4) industry communications through the FLF trade journal (Finanzierung, Leasing, Factoring), Fachveranstaltungen such as the Forum Nachhaltigkeit, press relations, and digital channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, XING). Long-standing academic ties with the Research Institute for Leasing at the University of Cologne (~40 years) reinforce its research franchise.

The operating model is a classic industry-association subscription model: recurring membership fees from 230 members, negotiated individually, fund a small administrative team (1-10 employees) led by President Kai Ostermann (Deutsche Leasing AG) and Secretary General Dr. Claudia Conen. BDL does not sell commercial technology products and has no proprietary software platform, app, or API offering. The current strategic emphasis is on ESG and sustainability, where BDL is positioning itself as the interpretive authority for leasing institutions navigating MaRisk amendments, BRUBEG, and VSME reporting standards.

Name

BDL

Legal name

Bundesverband Deutscher Leasing-Unternehmen e.V.

Website

https://bdl.leasingverband.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BDL is the Berlin-based non-profit industry association founded in 1972 that represents approximately 140 German leasing companies covering over 90% of the German leasing market, providing advocacy, market data, training (BDL-Akademie), and the FLF trade journal to its 230 member companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: BDL derives its primary revenue from membership fees paid by approximately 230 member companies, including around 140 leasing companies. These fees fund the association's activities including advocacy, research, events, and member services.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BDL is the central industry association of the German leasing sector, providing its roughly 230 member companies (including around 140 leasing companies that represent over 90% of German leasing market volume) with regulatory advocacy, industry market data and research, professional training through the BDL-Akademie, trade publications such as the FLF journal and the annual Leasing-Report, and networking through events including the General Meeting and Forum Nachhaltigkeit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BDL-Akademie A practice-oriented seminar program providing professional development and training courses for professionals working in the German leasing industry, including members and external participants.
• Fachzeitschrift FLF (Finanzierung, Leasing, Factoring) The official trade journal of the German leasing industry covering financing, leasing, and factoring topics, distributed to members and the wider industry audience.
• Leasing-Report (Jahresbericht) — "Zeit für Aufbruch" An annual report ('Zeit für Aufbruch' / Time for Renewal) showcasing customer examples, insider statements, and demonstrating how leasing serves as an investment and innovation driver in Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• Leasing companies financed €83.12 billion in investments in 2025, representing approximately one-third of total equipment investments in Germany
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Research Institute for Leasing at the University of ColognecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Research Institute for Leasing at the University of Cologne conducts scientific research on leasing and has collaborated with BDL for nearly 40 years. The institute conducts fundamental analyses on leasing advantages/disadvantages and maintains close observation of current topics. BDL supports the institute's work and has participated in numerous joint projects.
• Development Association (Förderverein für Leasing)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe independent, academically-oriented Development Association is financed through contributions from member companies, public-law corporations, trade associations, and private individuals. Many BDL advocates are members of both organizations, sharing common aims and aspirations with the Research Institute.
• German Economic Institute (IW Köln)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarting from 2021, the Cologne-based German Economic Institute (IW) has drawn up the leasing market report. This partnership provides authoritative market data and forecasts for the German leasing industry, used by BDL and its members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Asian Leasing & Finance Association (ALFA): Asia-focused leasing industry association providing advocacy and networking for leasing firms in the Asia-Pacific region. Comparable in mission to BDL but operates in a different geography, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesverband deutscher Banken (BdB): German Banking Association representing private banks in Germany. Comparable as a German financial services industry trade association with a similar advocacy, member service, and research mission, but covers a broader financial services portfolio beyond leasing.
• Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV): German Insurance Association representing the insurance industry. Comparable as a major German financial services trade association with similar advocacy, data, and member service functions, but operating in insurance rather than leasing.

Direct peers

• Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA): US trade association for the equipment finance industry. Directly comparable as a national leasing industry association delivering advocacy, industry data, education, and events, with a comparable function to BDL though focused on the US equipment leasing market.
• Finance & Leasing Association (FLA): UK trade body for the consumer and asset finance, leasing, and motor finance industries. Directly comparable as a national leasing industry association providing advocacy, market data, and member services to UK leasing firms, operating with a similar business model to BDL.
• Leaseurope: Federation of European Leasing Associations representing 44 member associations across 35 countries. Directly comparable as a pan-European trade body for the leasing industry that performs advocacy, market data, and research functions similar to BDL but at a continental level.

Others

• Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau (VDMA): Germany's main mechanical engineering industry association. Comparable as a large German industry trade body serving capital-equipment sectors that overlap significantly with BDL's end-customer base, though it represents equipment manufacturers rather than lessors.

Emerging players

• BVI Bundesverband Investment und Asset Management: German investment funds industry association. Comparable as a German financial sector trade association with similar advocacy and member service structures, but focused on asset management rather than leasing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LeasingVerband
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/LeasingverbandDe
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://bdl.leasingverband.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/organization-guest/company/bundesverband-deutscher-leasing-unternehmen-e-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BDL