OrangeIS gets new lease of life

VAR claims decision to launch its own financial services company is paying off

VAR Orange Information Systems Group (OrangeIS) claims it has already closed £1.2m in business through its new financial services arm.

OrangeIS Financial Services is the latest addition to the HP, HDS and NetApp partner's growing portfolio of companies.

Working with CHG Meridian as its preferred partner, the unit provides finance to fund anything from new acquisitions or equipment to special projects and consultancy.

The VAR, which turned over £16.8m last year, has also just opened a new office with demo facilities next to its Tower Bridge headquarters.

Group sales director Jody Pawson said the finance division had enabled it to win projects that were out of its reach before.

"Previously we were working with a leasing company and nothing really got pushed. We are now proactively going out to our client base with a separate company, with three or four guys who understand all aspects of finance," he said.

"In the first three or four months we have done four times as much [leasing] business as the previous two years."

OrangeIS will work with customers who have purchased kit from elsewhere but then later opt to lease it to release capital back to the business to fund another project, Pawson said.