Supporting innovative companies with social impact is one of the strategic pillars of Private Equity. The investment in scale-up Nobi is a perfect example of this commitment.

Together with LSP Health Economics Fund, LSP Dementia Fund and PMV, BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity is investing more than 13 million euros in the Belgian scale-up Nobi, known for its smart lamp that focuses on fall detection and prevention for the elderly. The existing shareholders are also stepping into this second, by Belgian standards substantial and international, influx of capital. In so doing, they confirm their confidence in a company that, on the one hand, wants to make a fundamental difference to the lives of elderly people in assisted living centres, service flats or simply at home. On the other hand, the smart lamp also serves the broader society, which, due to the rapid ageing of the population, is seeing the cost of care due to falls increase year after year.

The 13 million euros of new capital will be used to further develop long-term collaborations with assisted living centres, service flats and hospitals around the world, and to launch Nobi in people's homes. Nobi will also be investing in the redesign of its first generation lamps. Despite rising raw material prices, the company aspires to a lower-cost lamp to help as many people as possible. To achieve all this nationally and internationally, team Nobi will grow from 10 to more than 40 employees by the end of 2022.

Didier Beauvois, Head of Corporate Banking & Member of the Executive Board BNP Paribas Fortis: "This investment underlines our mission to support innovative companies with a positive social impact. Together with the reputable investment consortium, we are happy to support Nobi’s further expansion in order to meet one of the greatest challenges in our society in the coming years."

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With EUR 30 million in raised start-up capital, the Leuven biotech company AstriVax can further develop its vaccines. This is the largest amount of start-up money ever raised by a KU Leuven spin-off. BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity is one of the investors in this innovative Belgian company, which can now shift up a gear.

Tackling challenges in vaccinology

AstriVax focuses on the development of innovative vaccines, both preventive and therapeutic. With the start-up capital raised, the company will clinically develop its first thermostable yellow fever vaccine and further develop its candidate vaccines against rabies and chronic hepatitis B.

The company is building a highly innovative plug-and-play vaccine platform for this, based on the ground-breaking work done by co-founders Professor Johan Neyts and Doctor Kai Dallmeier from the KU Leuven Rega Institute. In this way, AstriVax seeks to design and produce vaccines faster and more cost-efficiently. The aim is to combine long-term protection with thermostable production, which requires no cooling. This makes it easy for vaccines to reach patients, even those in tropical and subtropical areas.

Ground-breaking scientific work with social relevance

In addition to BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity, PMV, Thuja Capital, Ackermans & van Haaren, OMX and the KU Leuven Gemma Frisius Fund are all participating in this financing round, led by V-Bio Ventures and Fund+.

"The Rega team has done fantastic scientific work in recent years, which they can now turn into valuable medical products. Investing in innovative companies with a strong social vision and promising potential, is perfectly in line with our Private Equity strategy", says Raf Moons, Head of BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity.

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BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity takes stake in Van de Velde Pipe Inspections & Solutions. The Lier-based company is a one-stop-shop for all piping solutions.

Van de Velde’s strength is that they offer an all-in-one solution: maintenance, inspection, advice, cleaning, renovation and repair of all kinds of pipes, tubes, storage tanks and sewers. Thanks to their solution-oriented approach, good service, and the use of modern techniques and materials, they have become a leading and forward-thinking player in their niche.

The company has boosted its investments in new technologies and digitalisation, offering robot cleaning and using drones for inspections, among others. The experienced management team focuses on projects with high added value that require specific expertise and technologically advanced material. Thanks to this forward-looking vision, Van De Velde dares to think out-of-the-box and is able to apply its know-how and solutions across the board for many applications in various industries.

"Van de Velde Inspections is an innovative company with a lot of growth potential and a strong management team with an excellent vision. This investment shows that we are not just focussed on large corporates", says Raf Moons, Head of BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity. "Private Equity is increasingly investing in SMEs. Companies such as Van de Velde Pipe Inspections & Solutions are an essential part of our Belgian economic fabric, and we are happy to support them."

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Also read the article that was published in De Tijd on 13 April 2022 (in Dutch only)

The interest that Umicore will pay on this loan, of which BNP Paribas Fortis coordinates the sustainability aspect, varies depending on the company’s compliance with environmental and governance criteria.

Umicore, a global player in materials technology and recycling, has decided to link the cost of its revolving credit line to the achievement of carbon neutrality and gender diversity objectives. Its performance, which will be measured against specific criteria, will determine the interest margin applicable. The loan is granted for a basic term of five years by a pool of 13 banks. BNP Paribas Fortis acted as ‘Sustainability Coordinator’.   

Umicore has chosen to link its interest margin to two major targets:

• the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1 and 2) by 20% in 2025 and 50% in 2030 respectively;
• to have 35% women in a management role by 2030, and to achieve gender parity as soon as possible.

The SLL: a major breakthrough in sustainable finance

When a company takes out a 'Sustainable Linked Loan' (SLL), the amount of interest it pays depends on specific indicators linked to environmental, social and/or governance (ESG) objectives. These indicators are jointly defined by the borrower and the lender. In doing so, the borrower demonstrates the seriousness of its ESG ambitions.

Working with our clients towards a sustainable future

"The finance market has rarely been this interesting for any company currently seeking to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals", Didier Beauvois, Head of Corporate Banking & Member of the Executive Board of BNP Paribas Fortis, emphasises. “I am proud that Umicore has chosen BNP Paribas Fortis to set up its first Sustainability Linked Loan to support its ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality and gender diversity. This Sustainability Linked Loan is a clear example of how we and the syndicated banks we represent, intend to serve our clients for a more sustainable future."

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BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity, which helps promising companies achieve their growth ambitions, has invested in the Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab. Thanks to the support of our bank and a number of other leading investors, the company raised EUR 40 million.

Aerospacelab makes and processes satellite images that, among other things, allow air pollution to be better controlled. Not only are they taking European space technology to the next level, they also want to make it affordable and widely applicable. With the funds raised, Aerospacelab will ramp up its satellite constellations production and develop solutions with multiple sensors to analyse this satellite data.

"We are delighted that we are one of the new investors in Aerospacelab and therefore support technological entrepreneurship in Belgium. Just like our bank, Aerospacelab is determined to make a real positive impact on a global level. We strongly believe in their capabilities and are proud that as a Belgian company they can play a decisive role in European space technology," said Didier Beauvois, Head of Corporate Banking & Member of the Executive Board of BNP Paribas Fortis.

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