Avant Credit IFN has provided financing totaling  €4 million since the beginning of the year, following the repositioning of its operations towards corporate lending. The company currently has a pipeline of approximately €20 million and is targeting a loan portfolio of €6 million by the end of 2026. 

The company primarily targets SMEs and mid-market companies with annual turnover of between €1 million and €20 million, focusing on real estate and energy, while also evaluating opportunities in IT, construction and transportation. 

Financing starts at approximately €100,000, with an average value of around €500,000. Recent transactions include a €1.3 million in working capital financing facility provided to an international transportation company. 

‘’The private lending market in Romania – financing granted to companies by non-banking lenders such as NBFIs and credit funds – is becoming increasingly structured, following the model of Western markets, where non-banking financing is regarded as a standard instrument for businesses. We see growing demand from SMEs and mid-market companies that need flexible capital tailored to their pace of growth, whether that means working capital, acquisitions in consolidating industries or real estate and energy projects. Our current pipeline confirms the need for such solutions and supports our portfolio expansion target,” stated Daniela Stanciu, General Manager of Avant Credit IFN. 

Corporate lending in Romania remains well below the European average

Romania has the lowest level of non-governmental credit-to-GDP in the European Union, standing at 22% at the end of March 2026 compared to an EU average of 66%, according to the Financial Stability Report published by the National Bank of Romania in June 2026.

Against this backdrop, non-banking financial institutions are playing an increasingly important role in financing the economy. Lending granted by NBFIs to non-financial corporations grew by 12.5% in 2025 to 49.8 billion RON, according to the National Bank of Romania Annual Report. However, roughly two thirds of this volume represents leasing, demonstrating that the direct corporate lending segment by non-banking financiers is still in its early stages.

For Avant Credit, this gap indicates significant room for growth in financing solutions complementary to bank lending, particularly in situations where the timing of a commercial opportunity does not match that of traditional funding sources.

“In Romania, we see young companies, businesses emerging from restructurings, or fast-growing firms that need to be evaluated from the perspective of their growth potential. We also see companies with approved EU funds, pending VAT refunds, or outstanding receivables from state contracts whose funds arrive later than needed. To these companies, we offer a rapid turnaround, repayment structures tailored to their cash flows, and the backing of a financial group with over 22 years of European expertise,” added Daniela Stanciu. 

Two APS Holding entities, Avant Credit and APS Investments, join DDC Financial Group to host financial event in February 2027 

Avant Credit IFN and APS Investments, both members of APS Holding, are partnering with DDC Financial Group to host the Romania Credit & Investment Forum 2027 on February 9, 2027. The event is dedicated to discussions on private corporate debt, restructuring, real assets, and institutional investment opportunities across Romania and the  broader South-Eastern European market. This forum will bring together more than 100 participants – investors, lenders, banks, credit servicing providers, consultants and other financial industry specialists – for a day of hands-on discussions. 

About Avant Credit

Avant Credit IFN is a non-banking financial institution specializing in corporate financing. Since 2025, the company has been part of the Czech group APS. Avant Credit provides SMEs and mid-market companies with working capital financing, investment loans, acquisition financing, and bridge loans, as well as participating in the co-financing of investment projects through structures tailored to each business's specific needs and cash flows. In 2026, Avant Leasing IFN was repositioned under the Avant Credit IFN brand with a focused approach on corporate lending.

About APS Investments

APS Investments is part of APS Holding, operating in the fields of investment and capital management. At the group level, APS Investments develops dedicated investment strategies for corporate lending in the context of expanding financing and investment operations across the region.