Dutch SMEs are applying for credit en masse, the financing platform NLInvesteert is even talking about records. Dirkjan Takke, director of NLInvesteert, says they have already received a funding volume of 200 million in the first quarter. “That’s really factor 4 of what we’ve been used to last year.” Takke sees a sharp increase in the number of alternative investments.
‘We see volumes increasing enormously. It’s not just over
Takke cites the growing need for working capital in combination with the payment of crown debts as the cause. He also sees that they are still investing in sustainability, automation and improvement of production processes. There is a large need for funding, according to Takke, there are no specific sectors that need more money than others.
Banks do not finance
Banks don’t lend a hand when it comes to financing SMEs because the volumes are too small. Takke therefore sees a significant increase in alternative financing and an increase in the number of SMEs registering with NLInvesteert. ‘Entrepreneurs come to us because they need capital. But even borrowing from banks during this difficult period has become a little more difficult. And so the search for alternatives is added to bank financing or instead of bank financing.’
20 percent
Takke calls it “a fact” that banks “behave differently than they did back then” and are reluctant to finance. According to him, 20 percent of entrepreneurs now seek refuge outside the banks. “But also companies that need more money, of which one in twenty now also turns to alternative lenders”.
NLInvesteert has already received as many applications in this first quarter as in the entire previous year, Takke expects this trend to continue. ‘We see volumes increasing enormously. It just didn’t end.’
Source: BNR
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