The program aims to empower small to medium-sized operators, including non-profit organizations, by addressing common barriers to accessing the capital needed for establishing or expanding operational sites.
Lease-to-own type arrangement:
- Agreement: Lease-to-own type agreement with COEX, known as a licence of goods arrangement.
- Duration: This lease lasts up to four years, depending on the operator's eligibility.
- Deposit: Operators must pay a deposit at the start of the arrangement. This will be the lower of 5% of the asset purchase price or $5,000.
- Monthly payments: Operators make monthly payments to cover the asset's cost. The standard formula for calculating monthly payments is:
- Variation of payment requests: Operators can request a variation to the standard monthly lease model by getting in touch with the COEX tenders team to discuss other options. Any changes to the standard monthly lease payment model will need to be clearly outlined within the ‘Financial Capacity’ section of the application pack under ‘COEX Asset Program’.
- Administration fee: A one-time administration fee is payable:
- $495 for assets with a purchase price of $50,000 or lower.
- $995 for assets with a purchase price above $50,000.
Ownership Opportunity: Once the operator has made payments equal to or greater than the asset's cost, COEX will issue a purchase option which will allow the operator to own the asset outright. This purchase option will only be issued if the below conditions are met:
- The operator is complint with the scheme’s safety requirements and standards.
- There is a high liklihood of continued operation within the scheme in the medium to long term.
- The asset will be utilised of the asset to contribute to the scheme's growth.
Length of arrangement: The program offers different lease lengths based on the operator's size (see section 5.6 for detailed eligibility criteria):
- Up to four years for small organisations and non-profits.
- Up to two years for medium organisations.
Ongoing asset maintenance costs: For assets requiring regular maintenance, such as RVMs, operators must establish an ongoing direct agreement with the manufacturer to maintain the goods according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Failure to maintain the asset properly may result in a breach of the lease agreement, leading to forfeiture of the asset and any payments made to COEX. The COEX tenders team will assist in facilitating communications between the operator and the supplier to establish this direct agreement. COEX will review the asset's performance during quarterly reviews.
Insurance: Operators are responsible for holding asset insurance and public liability insurance at levels sufficient to satisfy COEX, which will depend on the asset. Operators must provide COEX with certificates of currency for relevant insurance policies and may require COEX to be noted as an interested party.