Deal highlight
£447,500 vac ex built in Germany, funded and paid out before it reached the UK
One of our recent deals shows how quickly well-structured asset finance can move: a brand new vac ex, built in Germany, funded and paid out while the truck was still overseas.
A UK utilities contractor needed a new vacuum excavator, known in the trade as a vac ex, to support its growing workload. The machine was a new build manufactured in Germany and supplied by MTS, with a purchase price of £447,500 plus VAT.
We arranged the funding as a hire purchase agreement with just a 5% deposit and a VAT deferral, allowing the business to take on the equipment without paying the full cost up front.
The deal at a glance
- Equipment: new vac ex, manufactured in Germany
- Supplier: MTS
- Purchase price: £447,500 plus VAT
- Finance: hire purchase
- Deposit: 5%
- VAT: deferred, helping the business preserve cash
- Payout: supplier paid before the truck reached the UK
Paid out before the truck reached the UK
What made this deal unusual is that the supplier was paid out before the vehicle had arrived in the UK.
Many funders are reluctant to release money against an asset they cannot see on UK soil. Getting this deal over the line took the right funder, a clear paperwork trail and careful coordination between the customer, supplier MTS and our team.
Why imported and specialist equipment needs the right broker
Specialist machines are often built to order and sometimes come from overseas manufacturers. Delivery timelines, supplier payment terms and import logistics can all affect how a funding request is structured.
Asking the right questions early, including when the supplier needs to be paid and what the funder needs to see before releasing funds, helps avoid delays once the order is placed.
Planning a specialist or imported purchase?
If you are looking at new or used specialist equipment, speak to our team before you commit to a supplier payment schedule. We will explain the funding routes available and find a structure that suits the asset and your business.
Direct Commercial Finance Ltd is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. Finance is subject to status and lender approval. Information checked on 22 October 2026.