Corporate lending: Avant Credit granted €4 million in financing during the first ten months of the year. The company aims to reach a loan portfolio of €8 million by the end of 2026.

The company aims to reach a loan portfolio of €8 million by the end of 2026, in a market where corporate lending, measured as a share of GDP, remains less than half the EU average.

Avant Credit IFN, a company active in the corporate financing segment and a member of the Czech APS Holding Group, granted a total of €4 million in financing between January and October 2026, following the repositioning of its business towards corporate lending. „The company currently has a pipeline of approximately €5 million and aims to reach a loan portfolio of €8 million by the end of 2026.” – according to the press release.

„Avant Credit currently has an additional financing capacity of approximately €4 million. The company primarily targets the mid-market segment, focusing on companies operating in real estate and energy, while also exploring opportunities in IT, construction and transport. Its target clients are mainly companies whose financing needs require structures tailored to the pace and specific characteristics of their businesses.” – the company said.

Financing facilities granted or under consideration start at approximately €100,000, with an average ticket size of around €500,000. Recent transactions include a €1.3 million working capital facility granted to an international transport company.

“The direct lending market in Romania is becoming increasingly structured, following the model of mature Western markets, where non-bank financing is regarded as a standard business tool. During the first ten months of the year, we granted €4 million in financing and are seeing growing demand from mid-market companies seeking flexible capital tailored to their development pace. This includes working capital facilities, as well as acquisition financing in consolidating industries and funding for projects in key sectors such as real estate and energy. With an additional financing capacity of €4 million and a solid pipeline, we remain committed to reaching a loan portfolio of €8 million by the end of this year,” said Daniela Stanciu, General Manager of Avant Credit IFN.

Corporate financing in Romania remains significantly below the European average
Avant Credit’s development comes against a backdrop in which financing for Romanian companies remains significantly below European levels. The outstanding balance of loans and borrowings granted to non-financial corporations in Romania represented 27.4% of GDP in 2024, compared to 60.8% of GDP across the EU-27, according to Eurostat data. Meanwhile, lending to non-financial corporations through non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) reached approximately RON 46 billion in September 2025, up 13.4% year-on-year.

For Avant Credit, this gap points to significant room for growth in financing solutions that complement traditional bank lending, particularly in the mid-market segment.

Avant Credit provides financing for working capital, investments, acquisitions, bridge financing and the co-financing of investment projects. Situations in which the company identifies a growing need for flexibility include projects where the timing of a business opportunity does not align with that of traditional funding sources, fast-growing companies, acquisitions and transactions, projects requiring co-financing, as well as transitional periods resulting from restructuring or changes in ownership.

The company’s typical target client is a mid-market business with annual revenues ranging from €1 million to €20 million. This also includes companies whose cash flows are influenced by projects, seasonality, or contractual milestones and which therefore require repayment structures tailored to these specific characteristics.

“We see companies in Romania that are relatively young, have recently undergone restructuring or are growing very rapidly and therefore need to be assessed based on their development potential. We also work with companies that have secured EU funding, are awaiting VAT refunds or have other receivables arising from contractual relationships with the state, but for which payments arrive later than needed. In addition, we have identified companies developing new business lines or entering new market segments, which require additional working capital. All these companies need the flexibility we provide, our short response times and the financial strength of our group, backed by more than 22 years of experience across Europe,” added Daniela Stanciu.

First bond issuance fully allocated to new corporate loans

Avant Credit’s first bond issuance, worth €1.786 million, was fully used to provide new financing through Avant Credit IFN. The company expects to list the bond issuance on the Bucharest Stock Exchange by the end of 2026, subject to obtaining the necessary approvals.

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Avant Credit IFN is a non-bank financial institution specializing in corporate financing and a member of the Czech APS Holding Group. The company provides financing solutions for mid-market businesses, including working capital, investments, acquisitions, bridge financing and the co-financing of investment projects, through structures tailored to each business’s cash flows and specific requirements. In 2026, the company strengthened its position in the corporate lending segment following the repositioning of Avant Leasing IFN under the Avant Credit brand.

APS Investments is part of the APS Group and operates in the investment and capital management sector. At group level, APS develops investment strategies and dedicated credit vehicles, including APS Credit Fund SICAV, as part of its broader expansion of financing and investment activities across the region.