The President of Portugal distinguishes ALF

The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, distinguished the Portuguese Association of Leasing, Factoring and Renting (ALF) with the Order of Business Merit – Commercial Class, recognising the contribution of the Association and its members to the development of the financial system and the national economy.

The award was presented at the Belém Palace on the 30th of December 2025 and was received on behalf of the Association by its President, Luís Augusto, accompanied by a delegation of members of the governing bodies and secretariat. 

For the President of ALF, Luís Augusto, "this distinction represents recognition of the work carried out over more than 40 years by ALF's member institutions, which have been at the forefront of financing the Portuguese economy, supporting investment, innovation and competitiveness in the country, always with a view to institutional collaboration and serving the public interest‘, adding that ’the evolution of the products represented by ALF - Leasing, Factoring and Renting - was highlighted, which went from being used only in the most developed European countries to being fully implemented and widespread in Portugal".

ALF has its origins in APELEASE, founded on 28 February 1984, in a context of profound transformation of the Portuguese financial system, which began with the publication of Law nº 46/77, which allowed the creation of parabanking institutions and the introduction of financial Leasing in Portugal. A few years later, Factoring was regulated by Decree-Law No. 56/86, and later Renting emerged, challenging the traditional concept of ownership by introducing innovative solutions for integrated car fleet management.

Over more than four decades, Leasing, Factoring and Renting have established themselves as fundamental instruments for financing the Portuguese economy, supporting companies and families in a dynamic, flexible manner that is suited to different economic realities.

Since joining ALF, member institutions have made a significant contribution to the national economy, notably financing more than €105 billion in movable and immovable property investments through Leasing, €630 billion in financing through Factoring, and the acquisition of 546,000 new light vehicles, worth €11.8 billion, through Renting.

In an increasingly demanding and competitive economic context, these specialised financing instruments have played a central role in promoting investment, competitiveness and the modernisation of the Portuguese business fabric. Faced with structural challenges such as the energy transition and strengthening the competitiveness of the economy, Leasing, Factoring and Renting continue to be essential drivers of development, as is the case in the most advanced European economies.

Throughout its history, ALF has been the point of convergence for these sectors, promoting their technical development, institutional dialogue with the Government and public entities, as well as training and financial literacy initiatives, always with the aim of contributing to the best solutions for the Portuguese economy.

The distinction now awarded by His Excellency the President of Portugal is a recognition of ALF's institutional role and the ongoing contribution of its members to the country's economic and financial development.