By Daniel Lanyon on Wednesday 13 February 2019
The investment arm of the French banking giant believes the market for non-traditional lending is growing.
BNP Paribas Asset Management’s move into the European SME lending market has taken a further step forward following the origination of its first loan in the Netherlands
The loan was made through BNPP AM’s SME Alternative Financing platform, via its origination partner Caple, for €700k to Elmet, a specialist wholesaler of electrical components to sectors including offshore marine, petrochemicals and infrastructure.
In a statement, the firm said the loan will support a consolidation of Elmet’s shareholder structure and boost future growth of the business. BNPP AM is targeting €1bn of lending annually to European SMEs through its new platform
The platform completed its first transaction - a loan in the UK - in May last year.
Stéphane Blanchoz, Head of SME Alternative Financing at BNP Paribas Asset Management, says the methods by why which European SMEs borrow to finance growth is shifting in favour of r non-traditional lenders.
“Through our SME Alternative Financing platform we are able to offer access to funding that is quicker and more flexible that has previously been the case. We are very ambitious in this area and the loan to Elmet is a key milestone in the development of the platform in continental Europe,” he said.
21 March 2023
Daniel Lanyon