About us > Athlon Car Lease International > History

History

Below you find a brief overview of the main events:

Year Event
1916 Establishment of Riva (Reparatie Inrichting van Automobielen or ‘repair station for automobiles’). Under this name, three men from Amsterdam – Justus van Aken, Gerrit Kerst and Adrianus Bernhard – launched a business for car repair and maintenance.
1923 First dealership for Ford.
1925 Albert Heijn acquires a majority stake in the company at that time called ‘de Amsterdamsche Garage v/h C.L. de Groot’. The company sets up in business at Overtoom 197-205 in Amsterdam.
1929 Opening Riva The Hague.
1934 Name of Amsterdamsche Garage v/h C.L. de Groot changed to NV R.I.V.A.
1943 German service post requisitions the offices and showroom on Overtoom, Amsterdam.
1945 Death of Mr Albert Heijn. His sons, Gerrit and Jan, take on all of the shares.
1949 Acquisition of Opel dealership.
1954 Flotation at Amsterdam Exchange.
Since 1955 Purchase of various premises in Amsterdam and The Hague to open workshops and service stations.
1962 Operation of petrol station on Amsterdamseweg in Amstelveen.
1963 Establishment of Auto Lease Plan in Amsterdam, the first lease activities (with Bank Mees en Hope). Co-operation ends after only half a year.
1969 Establishment of Universele Lease Maatschappij Unilease (with subsidiary ABN, Algemene Bank Nederland).
1972 Conversion of all subsidiaries into private companie
1973 Establishment of Interleasing Nederland in Amsterdam.
1990 Launch of car body repair (CARe Schadeservice).
1990 Athlon Groep N.V. increases stake in Interleasing Belgium from 75% to full ownership..
1991 Riva N.V. changes its name to Athlon Groep N.V.
1992 Sale of car fuel activities (MarGas).
1993 Establishment of Axxi Autoverhuur.
1993 Disposal of Riva Mega-dealers.
1997-1999 Acquisition of several French and German car leasing- and rental companies.
1997 Acquisition of German rental company C.C. Raule.
1998 Acquisition of AV Leasing in Germany.
1999 Acquisition of share capital in Hiltermann Lease Service.
1999 Acquisition of three car rental and lease companies in France: SDL, Selmat and CB Location.
1999 Acquisition of lease company Autop Deutschland.
2001 Lease fleet exceeds 100,000 cars.
2001 Sale of dealer activities.
2002 Disposal of rental activities, active in captive rental only.
2003 Merger into one lease company per country. Introduction of Athlon Car Lease/Holding.
2004 Acquisition of remaining 50% in Unilease.
2005 Athlon Car Lease signs Letter of Intent for the acquisition of Spanish Business Renting
2006 Athlon Car Lease finalises Spanish acquisition (Business Renting)
2006 Public offer De Lage Landen. 
2006 Take-over is final. De-listing of Athlon Holding is irrevocable.
Sale of Care Schadeservice.
2007

Lease fleet exceeds 200,000 cars.

Establishment of Athlon Car Lease Polska.

2008 Establishment of Athlon Car Lease Portugal.