BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions announced the appointment of Neil Pein as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 18, 2024. Pein succeeds Isabelle Loc, who has been promoted to Head of Commercial & Personal Banking in France and will join the BNP Paribas Executive Committee.
Pein, previously Head of Payments for BNP Paribas, brings extensive experience within the Group to his new role. He will report to Thierry Laborde, Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas and Head of Commercial, Personal Banking & Services (CPBS).
“With his extensive experience in the Group, Neil has all the qualities needed to support the development of Leasing Solutions, a business in which he knows the challenges and the teams. I’m sure that Neil will be able to take up the torch from Isabelle, who has successfully led the transformation of this business at the heart of the real economy,” said Thierry Laborde.
Neil Pein, 42, had held the position of Head of Payments for BNP Paribas since 2021, where he played a pivotal role in the business’s transformation. He rejoined the Group in 2018 and was instrumental in the creation of Axepta BNP Paribas, a business line serving retailers. Additionally, he spearheaded the development of “New Digital Business,” a unit that unites payment-related Fintechs within the Group, including Nickel, Floa, and Lyf.
Prior to BNP Paribas, Pein began his career in financial markets with Goldman Sachs. He joined BNP Paribas in 2007 as an equity derivatives trader before transitioning to the Group’s Financial Management department from 2013 to 2016. During this period, he focused on acquisitions, divestments, and capital optimization initiatives. In 2016, he was appointed Sales Director at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions for technology equipment leasing in France.
Neil Pein holds a Master of Science degree from New York University and is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique.
Komatsu Group, a world leading manufacturer of construction, mining & utility equipment, and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, European leader in professional equipment finance, have decided to extend their Cooperation Agreement to the Nordic region.
The Agreement was first launched in 2018 in France, Germany, Italy, and then in Belgium and the Netherlands. As part of the extension, it was launched in Sweden in mid-October before being extended to Norway and Denmark in the years to come. It will allow Komatsu Group to support their clients’ growth and development in this high potential region through finance solutions for their equipment needs.
Arnault Leglaye, CEO of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions in the Nordics said, “I’m very happy to see Komatsu Finance and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions join forces to offer innovative and competitive finance solutions to Komatsu’s clients. The fact that this long-term partnership is now extending to the Nordics is only proof of our close collaboration. We are confident of the market potential and our synergies to make it a success.”
Johan Appelros, Sales manager for Komatsu Finance in the Nordic region said, “This is a long-term investment with the goal to offer Komatsu’s Nordic customers with sustainable and favorable investment terms. BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions is the perfect partner for us as we now establish in this region.”
TSG and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions have signed a partnership to deliver financial and technical solutions to support their customers’ needs in terms of energy transition. TSG will distribute its complete range of solutions, while BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions will offer finance solutions that answer each client’s needs.
This partnership will be effective on the whole European market, in the countries where both companies operate.
European Leader in Technical Services for Responsible Mobility Solutions, TSG offers companies a full range of energy transition solutions encompassing notably Electrical Vehicle Charging as well as Solar local generation solutions and hydrogen infrastructures. Thanks to its network of 2 900 highly skilled technicians and experts based in 30 countries in Europe, TSG guarantees a high quality of execution, with a constant focus on reliability from design, sourcing, installation to daily operations and maintenance.
With this alliance with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, TSG will be able to offer a finance solution adapted to their B-2-B customers who often struggle to finance their equipment investments. This finance scheme – consisting of a regular fee to access the infrastructure and equipment – will allow companies to develop sustainably while preserving their cashflow.
“The partnership with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions marks a further step in TSG’s development strategy, offering global responsible mobility solutions and sustainable energy infrastructures for all business customers. Together with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, TSG is now offering its customers across Europe a turnkey solution covering both technical and financial aspects. We are convinced that it will bring a true added value to our customers in accelerating their energy transition by facilitating investment in new infrastructures for energy for mobility,”declares Jean-Marc BIANCHI, Chairman and CEO, TSG Group.
“Supporting companies’ transition towards more sustainable or cleaner sources of energy is at the heart of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions’ corporate engagement. That is why we are looking forward to supporting TSG’s customers energy transition by helping them access innovative and sustainable equipment,” adds Isabelle Loc, CEO, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions.
About TSG
TSG, the European leader in technical services for responsible mobility, is a key enabler of the energy transition for mobility: With unequalled presence in 30 countries, TSG designs, builds and maintains all types of energy distribution infrastructures for mobility: electric vehicles charging network, LPG/LNG, hydrogen and also fuel / biofuel service stations.
TSG offers a one-stop-shop (equipment sale, projects and maintenance services, digital payments and systems) for innovative energy and retail solutions. TSG serves all types of clients, in the public and private sectors from local authorities and retail to gas station networks and companies fleet installations.
TSG has over 4,700 employees, and revenue by €770m in 2021. TSG’s technicians are uniquely skilled, with recognized expertise in all new mobility energy solutions: electric vehicles, hydrogen, biofuels and natural gas as well as related systems and payment services.
TSG is a privately-held company, owned by its management and the entrepreneurial investment firm HLD.
BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, European leader in professional equipment finance, announces the successful issuance of its first securitisation on behalf of its affiliate BNP Paribas Lease Group SA.
The EUR 500 million transaction is the first ever public securitisation on professional equipment leasing contracts in Europe with a placement of all tranches to investors.
Isabelle Loc, CEO, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions: “We are very pleased with the strong reception that this transaction has seen in the market and the trust that investors have shown in the platform. The success of this first transaction will allow BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to extend its service offering to the benefit of its clients, which consist mainly of mid-size companies and SMEs in the real economy.”
TRANSACTION DETAILS
The securities, backed by more than 75,000 equipment leasing contracts with French SMEs and corporates, comply with the requirements for simple, transparent and standardised securitisations (STS), as well as those of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR).
The deal, which attracted strong demand from investors and was oversubscribed across the capital structure, priced on 28 October 2021 and closed on 22 November 2021.
BNP Paribas acted as Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager.
BNP Paribas and BNP Paribas Lease Group were advised by Hogan Lovells.
At the Global Capital European Securitization awards held in London on 27th April, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions received the Debt Issuer of the Year Award for our first ever securitization operation that was conducted at the end of 2021.
Organised by Global Capital, these awards bring together over 300 market participants. The Awards are a result of a comprehensive process of market research including an online poll and pitches.
By giving us this award, Global Capital recognised the standard of our pitch. They also appreciated the innovative nature of our securitization operation. Indeed, the EUR 500 million transaction was the first ever public securitisation on professional equipment leasing contracts in Europe with a placement of all tranches to investors. The successful completion of this transaction allowed us to extend our service offering to the benefit of our clients, which consists mainly of mid-size companies and SMEs in the real economy. The deal attracted strong demand from investors and was oversubscribed across the capital structure.
The award was received by Isabelle Loc, CEO of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions on behalf of the company.
SECURITISATION OPERATION – Find out more about our successfully closed securitisation operation.
At the 17th Leasing Life Conference & Awards held on 17 March in Barcelona, Spain, we received the European Leaser of the Year award for the sixth time since 2011.
Organised by Leasing Life, Europe’s leading magazine in the leasing industry, the Leasing Life Awards recognise the greatest achievements of the European equipment finance industry and bring together key market players.
By giving us this award, the jury once again reiterated our position as the European leader in professional equipment finance. With a presence in 20 countries across 3 continents, our teams support the development of our clients and partners with solutions that are both global and adapted to local specificities.
This award also recognises the diversity of solutions and services. We are the only player in the industry offering a range of solutions and services for each stage of the equipment life cycle and that respond to the different needs of our clients, partners and their distribution networks.
The award was received by Pascal Layan, Deputy CEO, and Pascale Favre, Head of the International Technology and Lifecycle Solutions Business Line.
The awards ceremony was preceded by a conference day during which Pascal Layan analysed the major post-COVID trends in the leasing market. Pascale Favre also participated in a roundtable discussion that addressed the lessons we learned from the pandemic.
When the European Commission launched the landmark EU Green Deal in December 2019 it set out a bold plan for the continent to transition to a sustainable economic future. Described as “Europe’s man on the moon moment”, in broad brush strokes it outlined its ambition to be the world’s first carbon neutral continent by 2050.
Four years on and the road map outlined in the Green Deal has delivered significant change, and today, Europe undoubtedly leads the world in the transition to a low carbon, circular economy.
But as climate change accelerates and we inch ever closer to the 2050 deadline, one thing is clear – unlike the moon landing, Europe’s final destination is still unknown and if the Green Deal is to be an equally historic success, the devil will be in the detail.
WHAT IS THE EU TAXONOMY? HOW DOES IT LINK TO THE TRANSITION TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
The EU Taxonomy, Europe’s sustainable finance framework, is the place to dig into that detail. It underpins the Green Deal by setting a standard for economic activities that can be classified as environmentally and socially sustainable. It includes the transition to the circular economy as one of its key objectives and could help to unlock the trillions in finance needed to make circularity mainstream.
A recent taxonomy policy development has circular economy enthusiasts talking, with new guidelines that set out criteria to determine whether certain economic activity makes a “substantial contribution to the transition to a circular economy” – a transition that could be worth €1.8 trillion to the EU economy by 2030.
FROM A SIDE NOTE TO A KEY THEME
What caught my attention is that product-as-a-service (PaaS) has re-emerged as a key theme for the EU and an important lever for achieving the circular transition.
In 2020, PaaS was given just a passing mention as part of the 35 actions set out in the Circular Economy Action Plan (a major building block of the EU Green Deal), but through this taxonomy update the EU has signalled that it will prioritise PaaS as a mechanism to achieve the circular economy and, crucially, give organisations the criteria they need to implement it successfully.
The new technical guidance defines product-as-a-service models as “providing customers with access to products through service models, which are either use-oriented services, where ownership remains with the provider and the product is leased, shared, rented or pooled; or result-oriented, where the payment is pre-defined and the agreed result is delivered (i.e. pay per service unit)” (pg. 67).
It goes on to list a range of manufactured product groups that fit the bill, including textiles, electronics, furniture, and more (pg.67). This alone is a welcome step towards acknowledging the breadth of possibility that PaaS models can deliver.
However, the list is far from exhaustive, with medical tech, agricultural machinery, construction equipment, and automotives all notable omissions. Most, if not all, manufacturing sectors are being transformed by digitalisation at a rapid and increasing rate, meaning products become obsolete overnight and extracting the maximum value from resources, via circular models like PaaS, is paramount. The guidance will surely be broadened in future updates to capture the endless opportunities that as-a-service models can offer a multitude of industries.
The guidelines also set out criteria PaaS models must meet to be considered to be making a substantial contribution to the circular economy. First and foremost, the activity must “provide the customer with access to, and use of product(s), while ensuring that the ownership remains with the company providing this service, such as a manufacturer, specialist or retailer” (pg. 67).
THE LEASING INDUSTRY’S ROLE IN CIRCULAR TRANSITION
This is a call to arms for the leasing industry, which has an important role to play in helping organisations to implement systems that aid the circular transition. There is an opportunity here for lessors to build on our expertise in offering customers residual value pricing on assets (which inherently fosters the preservation of assets and their value) to offer a broad range of services covering the full lifecycle of an asset from asset management tools to data analysis to in-life maintenance support and sustainable end-of-life disposal.
Interestingly, the guidance also states that both a longer useful economic life through, for example, repair/refurbishment, and greater usage intensity (i.e. ride share services) are positive outcomes to be derived from PaaS models that will promote the transition to the circular economy (pg. 68). Clearly, the results for each of these approaches is very different because the more intensely a product is used, usually the shorter its life will be.
This is a powerful motivation for organisations to move away from traditional ownership models and work with lessors, who advocate for an optimum life of an asset rather than sweating an asset beyond its useful life, resulting in low value components with little opportunity for reuse. When managed properly, assets can deliver maximum value for organisations in their first lifecycle, be sustainably and securely refurbished and go on to fuel the second-hand market with high-quality products. These are the hallmarks of a truly circular economy.
Only three years after PaaS was just a side note in the EU Green Deal, it is now explicitly included in EU taxonomy, which is a hugely positive step forward. There’s still lots to do to create a framework that supports a truly circular economy and give investors and businesses the tools they need to implement circular solutions.
Setting these parameters will help the EU scale up sustainable investment, prevent greenwashing, and support organisations to transition to a more sustainable, future-proof way of doing business. Get this detail right and the sky really is the limit.

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions receives Vendor Finance Provider and Best Energy Transition Financing Programme(s) awards at the Leasing Life Conference & Awards 2023. The ceremony, hosted on 9th November 2023 in Budapest, Hungary, marked the 20th anniversary of the prestigious awards which recognise the achievements of the key players in the European asset finance industry.
Scooping not one, but two fiercely contested awards, the accolade of Vendor Finance Provider is in recognition of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions’ enduring commitment to its extensive network of equipment manufacturers and suppliers across Europe and beyond – supporting investment in essential business assets to boost growth and drive innovation.
The Award for Best Energy Transition Financing Programme(s) reflects BNP Paribas’ dedication to supporting partners and clients on their journey to net-zero.
Commenting on the two awards, Pascal Layan, Deputy CEO at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions said: “To be recognised as Vendor Finance Provider highlights our unwavering commitment to partnerships, a core company value that drives us forward. To win the Award for Best Energy Transition Financing Programme(s) for the second year in a row emphasises our dedication to supporting our partners and their clients in their sustainable transition.”
“I want to thank our teams whose hard work fuels our success, and to our partners and clients who consistently place their trust in us. Together we are contributing to a sustainable and prosperous future.”
The awards ceremony was preceded by a conference at which Pascal Layan hosted an insightful and panel discussion with key members of the BNP Paribas’ team on a wide range of topics including business growth, new business models, digitalisation and sustainability.
Our joint venture partner, 3stepIT, also enjoyed well-deserved success on the night, securing the Best ‘ESG/Sustainability’ Initiative of the Year.
On 30 April, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions and Same Deutz-Fahr (SDF) marked a milestone anniversary as they celebrated a 25-year successful partnership. The partnership has been instrumental in driving the continued evolution of the agricultural sector through the formation of SDF Finance in 1998.
Since its inception, SDF Finance has been committed to providing innovative solutions and consistent funding that cater to the evolving needs of the agricultural industry. Today, the scope and geographical reach of the SDF Finance program has expanded, operating in 22 markets. The program offers sales support and finance solutions tailored to the manufacturer, its extensive dealer network, and the end customer.
The partnership between funder, manufacturer, and dealer has been effective in ensuring that the end customer has access to the most appropriate equipment and financing. This collaboration has helped SDF Finance to keep pace with evolving customer demands and changing market needs.
In a statement, Pascal Layan, Deputy CEO, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions said, “We are incredibly proud of this milestone anniversary with one of the key players in agriculture equipment manufacturing. SDF Finance’s continued success reflects the breadth and depth of our expertise and geographical reach. We enable SDF and its dealers to offer customers access to innovative and high-quality equipment which helps to drive their businesses forward sustainably and realize their growth potential.”
Alessandro Maritano, Chief Commercial Officer, SDF stated “Sharing a common business ethos is one of the keys to the success of this partnership between SDF and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions. Furthermore, facilitating access to new technologies and sustainable innovation is strong leverage to deliver tailor-made financial solutions to SDF dealers and customers. Having BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions as a solid worldwide financial partner has been, and will continue to be, a strong asset to shape the future growth of SDF in the agriculture industry.”
ABOUT SDF
SDF is an Italian multinational company based in Treviglio (Bergamo, Italy), among the world leaders in the production of tractors, agricultural harvesting machines and diesel engines. SDF distributes its products under the brands SAME, DEUTZ-FAHR, Lamborghini Tractors, Hürlimann, Grégoire and Vitibot. The tractor line-up covers a power range from 25 to 336 hp, while the harvesting machine range goes up to 395 hp. In nearly a century of history, SDF has contributed significantly to the mechanization of the agricultural sector, leading a successful international expansion path and being a driver of the digital transformation of agriculture. Today SDF produces “smart tractors” designed for increasing operational efficiency and productivity with a focus on Agriculture 4.0. SDF can rely on 9 production sites, 12 sales subsidiaries, 2 joint ventures, 155 importers and over 3,100 dealers and it employs more than 4,400 people worldwide. In 2022, the Company recorded revenues of 1,803 million euros and an EBITDA of 11.1%.
For more information, visit sdfgroup.com
BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions has announced a partnership with Eaton, the intelligent power management company, to offer tailored finance solutions to help business owners accelerate their energy transition while preserving cashflow.
In an era of elevated energy prices, business owners are looking at ways to reduce energy costs and ensure business continuity. Energy storage, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and EV charging infrastructure can help them to achieve these goals.
The solution developed by Eaton and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions offers cashflow-friendly payment plans for infrastructure and equipment, and also integrates access to Eaton’s global service network.
Pascale Favre, Head of the Technology Lifecycle Solutions business line at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions said: “Eaton’s approach is in line with our aim to support the transition to a net zero economy which is at the very heart of our GTS 2025 Plan. This is why we are looking forward to accompanying Eaton and its customers to invest in sustainable infrastructure and equipment.”
BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions and Eaton
Andreea Laplace, Strategic Financing and Venture Business Development Director at Eaton, said: “By taking an integrated approach to the energy transition, businesses will reap additional cost-savings and reduce their carbon footprint. Our Buildings as a Grid approach can include any combination of EV charging infrastructure, energy storage and renewable generation, but implementing all three yields most benefits. The solution we have developed with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions gives customers access to energy transition technologies affordably, helping them to conserve cash while at the same time make a positive environmental impact.”
The finance programme is available now in France, Spain, Norway and Switzerland, with further European expansion planned in 2023.
ABOUT EATON
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and doing what’s best for our stakeholders and all of society.
Founded in 1911, Eaton has been listed on the NYSE for nearly a century. We reported revenues of $19.6 billion in 2021 and serve customers in more than 170 countries.
For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.