Article

19.08.2022

“We enjoy being early adopters”

Every day, determined men and women are pushing back boundaries and helping to build a sustainable and digital economy. Such as the management and staff of Nexios IT in Vilvoorde, which has decidedly chosen for 100% electric driving. CEO Bart Rutten explains.

Traditional combustion engines are harmful to our planet. This is why Nexios IT from Vilvoorde decided to make its fleet of 86 company cars more sustainable. The transition began already in early 2021, and the IT company hopes to complete the process next year. “Mercedes has been our house brand for 15 years, so we chose the fully electric Mercedes EQA,” explains Rutten.

One common theme

Sustainability runs throughout the company. “We strongly believe in responsible business, whereby we pay attention to the employees, the economy and the environment,” confirms Rutten. “That mindset translates into everything from purchased materials - such as recycled paper - to company cars.”

“Our employees are also part of the sustainability story. The fact that the switch to electric driving is a logical choice for them illustrates their conviction. We are happy to reward them for this with a beautiful and complete vehicle like the Mercedes EQA. Of course we take the practical aspects into account too. Some employees live too far from a charging station. For them we are waiting until the government steps up its efforts in charging infrastructure.”

Own charging stations

Nexios IT is also investing in charging stations itself. “We have noticed that the office market is not responding well enough to this need for the time being,” explains Rutten. “It’s why we wrote to suppliers ourselves. After a thorough market study, we are now in the final phase of choosing a definitive partner.”

All these efforts come with a hefty price tag, of course. “The switch to an electric fleet is certainly not a cost-cutting exercise. But we believe in the story. We are happy to fulfil the role of early adopter and thus support further developments and evolution.”

About Nexios

Nexios IT has been developing applications in the Java and .NET programming languages since 2002. “We consider ourselves specialists who want to raise the bar higher than the generalists,” says Rutten. “We can handle any challenge, as long as it can be done with our expertise. Our clientele consists mainly of triple A clients from various sectors. We serve both the banking world and the gaming industry.”

Nexios IT has been a loyal customer of BNP Paribas Fortis for many years. “We especially appreciate the fact that the bank thinks with us. The leasing branch Arval also supports us in making our fleet of vehicles more sustainable, which meets our needs, and thus helps us to continue the ecological story,” concludes Rutten.

Entrepreneurial success stories

At BNP Paribas Fortis, we are particularly proud to support pioneering and inspiring companies like Nexios IT. Working together to forge new ways of doing business: another example of Positive Banking.

Article

11.03.2024

We’re all set up to fast-track businesses, including SMEs

A strong ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance is becoming a competitive factor. And SMEs are increasingly aware of this. A good thing, according to Didier Beauvois, Head of Corporate Banking.

How do you explain this acceleration in awareness among SMEs?

Under the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), listed companies and companies with more than 250 employees have been subject to ESG performance reporting obligations since 2022. This means that they have made commitments to their customers, investors, banks, employees and shareholders. To meet their ESG requirements, they are increasingly giving preference to suppliers (often smaller ones) that adopt and can demonstrate virtuous practices. In addition, SMEs will also be subject to the CSRD from 2026.

So, has the transition become a must for all companies?

If you want to continue working with customers of a certain size, for example in the retail sector, you no longer have a choice. Good ESG performance is becoming a competitive factor. In fact, we encourage all SMEs to communicate their efforts. A credible policy is a guarantee of viability, because a virtuous company will be in a much better position to attract investors or obtain good financing terms.

How is the bank helping SMEs make the transition?

Based on our experience of working with larger companies, we're ready to help them every step of the way. We have the expertise, the partners and the solutions, which we are gradually making available to smaller companies. 

Our relationship managers have access to a wide network of in-house experts. For example, they can call on our Sustainable Business Competence Centre or the Low-Carbon Transition Group, a BNP Paribas network of 200 experts around the world who can help customers make the transition to a low-carbon future. 

How do you support them in practice?

Our relationship managers, in collaboration with our experts and external partners, offer our customers a way forward. Let's take the example of a small supplier to a large retailer. Once they've understood the risks and opportunities associated with ESG, we help them make a diagnosis – what can they do about it? – and advise them on the actions they need to take. For example, making their vehicle fleet less polluting, improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, producing some of their own energy, making their production processes more circular, adapting their corporate governance, achieving a better gender balance in their management team, and so on.

We then look at the financing required to implement these actions and propose the solutions best suited to the company’s situation, size and sector. We've developed a wide range of transition-related products that we offer either directly or through partners.

Can you give some examples?

We offer specific loans that can be used to purchase insulation, solar panels, high efficiency boilers or electric vehicles. Large SMEs can also access a credit line (of at least EUR 10 million), with the interest rate linked to the achievement of ESG targets, which are verified by independent experts. For example, we have financed a lime producer by linking the interest rate of its loan to the reduction of its CO2 emissions, and a car park operator by linking the interest rate to the level of particulate emissions. We're also developing factoring solutions linked to ESG commitments, where we finance the payment of invoices for SMEs of all sizes.

Article

08.03.2024

Businesses stand to benefit from switching to electric and multimodal mobility

BNP Paribas Fortis is ready for the mobility of tomorrow. And Laurent Loncke, General Manager Retail Banking and member of the bank’s management committee confirms this when he says “We do much more than lease electric vehicles”.

How can companies leverage mobility as part of their transition?

"If we look at vehicle usage alone, switching from fossil fuels to electric energy can reduce CO2 emissions by a factor of four. This transition is being encouraged in our country more than ever by tax incentives and tax breaks. From 2035, the European Union will also ban the sale of cars with combustion engines. Whether it’s for the company fleet or company cars for employees, electric driving is the way forward, alongside other forms of mobility."

Are all businesses aware of this?

"These days, two out of every three new vehicles are company cars. And 80% of those orders are electric vehicles, a trend that is also apparent at our partner Arval."

So companies are playing a pioneering role in this transition?

"Certainly. First and foremost because former company cars find their way to the second-hand market at some point, making electric driving more accessible for everyone. Secondly, by choosing an electric car, you can encourage your friends and family to follow your example. Our recent Profacts survey (only in Dutch and French) showed that 85% of electric vehicle owners are satisfied to very satisfied that they switched to an electric vehicle. However, 42% of Belgians are still reluctant. Half of them are worried their battery will run out before they can get to a charging point."

Is their fear justified?

"Not really. Most drivers only feel comfortable with a range of 500 kilometres, even if they only drive a few dozen kilometres a day. It’s true the charging network does need to be developed further. Many people, especially those living in cities, cannot install a charging point at home. BNP Paribas Fortis is contributing to the expansion of the charging network through its participation in Optimile. This Ghent scale-up offers software solutions for charging electric cars and is developing strategic partnerships for the installation and maintenance of charging points."

Can an electric car be part of each employee’s remuneration package?

"Today, there are already less expensive vehicles on the market, making electric driving an option for middle and lower-management. The Total Cost of Ownership of an electric car is the most important factor, however. And this is still much lower than that of a vehicle with a combustion engine. Leasing is often the best solution. We have a comprehensive, tailor-made offering for all companies, regardless of their size and needs."

What exactly do you mean by a 'comprehensive offering'?

“In addition to leasing, we are able to offer charging solutions at home or at work, a charging card for public networks, the automatic reimbursement of electricity consumption at home, an app to find charging stations, and electric driving training through our many partners.”

So a complete ecosystem?

"We want to contribute to the mobility of tomorrow. By financing it, through credits or leasing, and with insurance, but also by working with partners outside our traditional activities. Like Optimile, and Touring, an organisation that is synonymous with reliability."

But mobility isn't just about cars, is it?

"We believe we need to rethink our relationship with the car. Given the climate targets and the increasing scarcity of resources, it is simply not possible to replace every internal combustion engine with an electric car at the moment. Arval offers its extensive expertise to companies considering a different approach to mobility. We help them analyse their needs, propose alternatives to the car, establish a mobility budget or draw up a mobility policy. We offer bicycle leasing, sometimes in combination with car leasing. We strongly believe in multimodality and mobility-as-a-service solutions: the option to combine different transport modes and pay for them without too much hassle. This is also one of the specialities of our partner Optimile."

Are companies and their employees open to this idea?

"The idea of employees no longer saying 'I have this amount for my car in my salary package', but rather 'I have this amount for my mobility'  is gaining traction. People are already paying for use rather than ownership in gyms or for streaming services. Mobility is going down the same route, with car-sharing and flat-rate subscriptions, making costs more predictable for businesses and private individuals. But the pace of change will also depend on the success of the federal mobility budget. For now, uptake is slow."

 

BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV – Montagne du Parc/Warandeberg 3 – 1000 Brussels – VAT BE 0403.199.702 – RPM/RPR Brussels

Optimile SA/NV – Sassevaartstraat 46 bus 204, 9000 Ghent – RPM/RPR Ghent – VAT BE 0648.837.849 – www.optimile.eu – BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV holds a greater than 10% stake in Optimile SA/NV.

Arval Belgium NV, Ikaroslaan 99, 1930 Zaventem – Brussels Register of Companies – VAT BE 0436.781.102.

Touring SA/NV, Koning Albert II-laan/Avenue Roi Albert II 4 B12, 1000 Brussels – Brussels Register of Companies – VAT BE 0403.471.401, is registered under this number with the FSMA, Rue du Congrès/Congresstraat 12-14, B-1000 Brussels, and acts as an associated agent on commission for AG Insurance SA/NV. AG Insurance SA/NV owns a greater than 10% stake in Touring SA/NV.
Article

08.03.2024

Has your company also locked in its energy prices?

The price of energy has experienced both high highs and low lows in recent years. This yo-yo behaviour is a worry to many entrepreneurs. Once again, BNP Paribas Fortis is here to offer you stability.

Controlling the price of energy: it’s an issue that’s almost impossible to avoid, or one that has been a recurring concern in your company over the past few years? We come from a time when energy prices were very volatile, with both high highs and low lows. These fluctuations have worried many entrepreneurs and, in some cases, caused huge additional costs. There is, however, a less well-known way for entrepreneurs to carry out risk management in this area. BNP Paribas Fortis is here to advise you.

Pendulum movement

Energy prices have been on a volatile ride in recent years. After the invasion of Ukraine, they rose to unprecedented levels. Gas prices rose to EUR 300 per MWh, while in previous years they had been around EUR 10-15 per MWh. Electricity prices rose to over EUR 600 per MWh. In previous years, the price was barely EUR 50 per MWh.

Crisis management

"As a result, BNP Paribas Fortis has received an increasing number of enquiries in recent years from companies looking to financially lock in their energy prices. Typically as a company you pay a variable price to the energy supplier. While you fix the price with the bank via a financial swap. Such financial swaps are also used to hedge other commodities (metals, oil products, etc.)." 

Mattias Demets, Commodity Derivatives Sales at BNP Paribas Fortis

The energy crisis of 2022 sent shock waves through the economy. Especially in energy-intensive sectors such as metallurgy or chemicals, it became clear how much affordable energy was crucial to the survival of many companies. Those that were self-sufficient in their energy needs weathered the storm better than others. The energy crisis also highlighted the importance of risk management. Companies wanted, as the legislator put it, to act like "prudent and reasonable persons" - the former "good householder principle". They fixed their energy prices and came out of the crisis virtually unscathed. While others could only hope that energy prices would come down again.

'Never waste a good crisis' is a regularly heard truism. For this energy crisis, we can use this expression once again. It’s fascinating to see companies now taking charge of their own energy supply. The rise of PPAs – Power Purchase Agreements – is particularly remarkable. A PPA is an electricity purchase agreement between a power producer and a customer.

Risk management

Companies are also making great strides in risk management. In the past, it was often up to management to lock in energy prices. They saw it as an additional responsibility to negotiate with energy suppliers. But since the energy crisis, we have seen companies become much more professional. Managing energy prices is today a job in itself. Companies are increasingly thinking about the right strategy to manage their energy costs so that their energy prices come down. How and when they lock in energy prices has become more of an informed decision than ever before, allowing them to protect their margins in the event of rising prices.

As a result, BNP Paribas Fortis has received an increasing number of enquiries in recent years from companies looking to financially lock in their energy prices. Typically as a company you pay a variable price to the energy supplier. While you fix the price with the bank via a financial swap. Such financial swaps are also used to hedge other commodities (metals, oil products, etc.). A financial swap may seem a bit complex at first, but it’s actually not such an intricate transaction. Of course, other structures are also available, depending on your needs.

This is where the “prudent and reasonable person” returns to assess what lies ahead. After all, whether you’re looking for smart investment opportunities or advice on ways to control your energy costs, it ultimately boils down to two sides of the same coin. BNP Paribas Fortis not only thinks about investing with you as an entrepreneur, but also about ways to help you smartly and safely manage important expenses  such as energy costs.

Permanent drop?

Regardless of how companies choose to fix their energy prices, the current market context is very interesting at the moment. Industry in Europe is going through tough times. Nevertheless, the economy is experiencing a soft landing – a slowdown, without a real recession. This is currently leading to lower gas and electricity prices. We have also had a mild and windy autumn and winter. As a result, energy producers have generated a historically high amount of electricity from renewable sources in recent months.

And there’s nothing to suggest that prices won't continue to fall. Europe is importing more LNG from the United States than ever before. Indeed, both the price of US gas and the cost of transporting it have fallen dramatically in recent months. However, elections are coming up in more than 65% of the developed world, and the geopolitical situation (Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan) could again cause volatility.

Prudence

Gas and electricity prices have not been this low for two years and the market is currently stable. But the 2022 energy crisis has shown that we must always be on our guard. Locking in your energy price is not only the most cost-effective tactic, but it will also protect you, as a business owner in times of increasing volatility.

For more information, please contact your relationship manager.

Article

01.12.2023

Investment grants for your business

Belgium’s three regions provide a range of grants for companies and self-employed people making investments. Our experts can help you make sense of the situation and submit your application.

The terms and amounts of investment grants vary greatly from one region to another. The applicable rules depend on the location of the operational entity making the investments. The company’s registered office is not relevant and can be located in any country. You should also bear in mind that applying for a grant is still a fairly cumbersome administrative process. That’s why our experts take care of all the steps, from submitting the grant application to collecting the grant money.

Flanders: a range of grants

Various types of grants are available in Flanders, the most important of which are support for strategic transformations, the ecology bonus, strategic ecological support, the SME e-wallet and the SME growth subsidy.

Each type of support targets different types of investment and different companies. Subsidy levels also vary widely, from 8% for a strategic investment by a large company to 50% for consultancy fees paid by an SME.

Our experts can help you identify subsidy opportunities and then arrange for you to meet a specialist from VLAIO, the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who will then help you with the rest of your application.

Wallonia: traditional and ecological aid

In Wallonia, investment grants are reserved for companies operating in a limited number of eligible sectors. Excluded activities include retail, transport and the liberal professions.

The terms and conditions also differ according to the size of the company. Small businesses must invest a minimum of €25,000. Large companies need to reach higher thresholds and invest in a development zone.

Examples of eligible business investments include buying/building a property, buying land and buying new business equipment.

The basic grant varies from 4% to 6%, but can be higher if the applicant creates jobs, takes an innovative approach or diversifies abroad, for example. A larger grant, up to 20%, may be obtained for projects that promote the sustainable use of energy and environmental protection.

Please note that it is essential to submit the request before any firm investment commitment is made: investments for which you have already accepted a quote can no longer be subsidised.

Our experts can guide your company through the entire process.

Brussels: the most generous

The Brussels subsidy for investments in goods, property or works is open to most sectors. In total, around 80% of the capital's economic activities are eligible for grants. The two main exceptions are education and real estate.

To qualify for a grant, the investment project must be worth at least €10,000 for a start-up business and at least €15,000 in other cases, depending on the size of the business. In addition, it must aim to develop or improve an existing activity: simple replacement expenditure does not qualify.

The aid can amount to up to 30% of the investment, although the average is 12.5%. The level of subsidy depends on a number of criteria, such as whether the company is a start-up and whether the investment will increase the number of people employed by more than 30%.

Over the course of 2024, reforms to the aid system will increase incentives for sustainable and circular economy projects.

Please note that it is essential to submit the request before any firm investment commitment is made: investments for which you have already accepted a quote can no longer be subsidised.

Our experts can guide your company through the entire process.

Discover More

Contact
Close

Contact

We would like you to answer a few questions. This will help us answer your request faster and in a more appropriate manner. Thank you in advance.

You are self-employed, exercise a liberal profession, are starting up or managing a smaller local company. Then visit our website for professionals.

You are an individual? Then visit our website for individuals .

Is your company/organisation client at BNP Paribas Fortis?

My organisation is being served by a Relationship Manager :

Your message

Type the code shown in the image:

captcha
Check
The Bank processes your personal data in accordance with the terms of the Privacy Notice of BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV.

Thank you

Your message has been sent.

We will respond as soon as possible.

Back to the current page›
Top