BNP Paribas Asset Management entered into a strategic alliance with European alternative SME credit specialist Caple.

Through a strategic alliance and the acquisition of a 10 percent stake in Caple, BNP Paribas Asset Management is providing an innovative platform to offer alternative credit to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Caple facilitates access to alternative credit for SMEs, working with international institutional investors to address gaps in the funding landscape by offering finance that complements traditional bank loans. A proprietary technology platform supports an efficient end-to-end credit application, combining origination by local partner networks of accountancy and advisory firms with an initial credit assessment by Caple’s experienced credit analysis teams. Caple’s technology also ensures transparency and standardisation of loan terms and documentation. Financing typically takes the form of unsecured loans with a tenor of five to eight years.