50% more deals than in 2019
Debt financing on the Loanboox platform increased by 50 percent in 2020 to CHF 7.1 bn, serving more than 600 issuers and 120 lenders. In addition, the fintech looks back on the world’s first fully digitally issued corporate bond and strengthening of its management team.
Despite volatile conditions, 7.1 billion Swiss francs in financings were concluded by municipalities, cantons and large companies via Loanboox in 2020 – 50% more than 2019. Four years after Go-Live, the leading platform for debt financing thus passed the 20 billion mark in terms of volume concluded. The fintech recorded the strongest growth in Germany with a quadrupled annual closing volume of 2.2 billion euros. Austria is following closely with 300% growth in deals closed.
Corona impacted the debt markets
In times of uncertainty, Loanboox enabled 600 issuers to access money quickly and at competitive rates. During the March lockdown, transactions with a volume of one billion Swiss francs were concluded – three times as many as in the same period in the previous year. Customers also benefited from the fact that almost all financing steps can be processed digitally – even from home office. This shows the convenience and flexibility of the Loanboox platform.
On the investor side, the crisis triggered restraint and a temporary increase in money market interest rates of around 0.5% in March and April. The situation eased again in summer and interest rates came back to their historically low levels, with financing up to 30 years being concluded at tight spreads.
Strengthened executive team to support new growth phase
In addition to the increased demand, changes in the Board of Directors and the Executive Board have further advanced the Fintech in 2020. In April, Loanboox elected the experienced business lawyer Dr. Felix R. Ehrat to the Board of Directors. In June, Philippe Cayrol joined the company as its new CEO. The experienced scale-up manager took over the position from Loanboox founder Stefan Muehlemann, who has since concentrated on his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Milestone with first digitally settled corporate bond
In July 2020, Axpo Holding AG became the first corporate issuer to place a listed green bond entirely digitally via Loanboox. The CHF 133 million bond with a maturity of 7 years was largely oversubscribed with more than 53 orders in the book. After establishing itself as a leading platform in public and near-public loan financing, this was an important step towards the digitalisation of the bond market.
About Loanboox
The fintech Loanboox is the leading European platform for debt financing and is active in six countries. Its clients include municipalities, cities, cantons and other public corporations and large companies, institutional investors and banks.
Contact persons:
Loanboox
Philippe Cayrol, CEO
Martina Bühler, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Talacker 50, 8001 Zürich
055 220 78 29, press@loanboox.com
