HP brings Euro scheme close to tier

Hewlett Packard has set up a pan-European financing scheme to make it easier for the firm?s distributors and direct-buying resellers to buy its kit.

The scheme, called Inventory Express, is a joint initiative with Deutsche Financial Services, which collaborates with HP on a similar programme in the US. It operates in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and France.

The scheme will offer first-tier partners extended credit lines with an option to increase their credit to accommodate larger than normal purchases, and gives payment discounts for accounts settled within 30 days. Previously, HP only allowed such discounts if accounts were settled with 15 days.

Dick Uyttewaal, manager of HP?s technology finance business unit, said: ?This project will help those first-tier partners that experience negative cashflow difficulties when reselling HP products.

?No other vendor offers a pan-European scheme like this, so we will have to educate the market about its benefits.?