New €10 Billion European Credit Lender Launches
Operators seeking performing credit in Europe will have a dedicated new lender to compare against existing bank and private credit options.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Corporate Finance
Apollo has launched European Credit Company, a platform focused exclusively on European performing credit with more than €10 billion of lending capacity. For operators, it signals a new institutional lender in the European private credit market serving mid-sized borrowers and financial partners.
Why it matters
The company was established to help address unprecedented financing needs in Europe driven by the industrial renaissance, meaning European businesses seeking credit now have a dedicated, well-capitalized lender focused on performing loans. Its sourcing model, through proprietary origination and partnerships with European financial institutions, could shift how credit is distributed across the region.
European Credit Company launched with more than €10 billion in lending capacity, backed by Apollo funds and affiliates alongside Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Athora, Norinchukin Bank, Standard Chartered and Aranda Principal Strategies. The parent, Apollo, reported approximately $1.05 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, while the company's stated focus is solely on European performing credit.
The players
Apollo Global Management
A large alternative asset manager with approximately $1.05 trillion in assets under management, known for its credit and private equity platforms.
European Credit Company
A newly launched lending platform focused exclusively on European performing credit, with more than €10 billion in initial lending capacity.
Standard Chartered
A London-headquartered international bank active across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and a backer of the new credit platform.
Norinchukin Bank
A major Japanese agricultural cooperative bank with a large investment portfolio, and one of the backers of the new credit platform.
Athora
A European life and pensions insurer that is one of the backers of the new credit platform.
The details
European Credit Company will source assets through two channels: proprietary origination and strategic partnerships with European financial institutions, including access to Apollo's European credit platform. Its backers include long-term capital investments led by Apollo funds and affiliates, along with Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Athora, Norinchukin Bank, Standard Chartered and Aranda Principal Strategies. The company is led by chief executive Giacomo Petrobelli and chairman Christian Meissner, with offices in Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg City and Milan.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: European Credit Company launch announced
June 30, 2026: Apollo's assets under management measured at $1.05 trillion
Coming quarters: planned expansion to additional European markets
Market Landscape
The launch continues the post-2008 movement of European corporate lending from banks toward non-bank private credit providers. It places a large institutional lender alongside existing banking partners such as Standard Chartered, which is itself one of the backers.
Finance leaders at European mid-sized companies should evaluate whether this new lender adds a viable option to their existing bank and private credit relationships. Treasury teams should review how a platform sourcing through European financial institutions may affect their refinancing options and the terms they are offered.
The takeaway
Operators seeking European credit should treat this platform as a new option to compare against bank and private credit terms before their next refinancing cycle. Track the company's announced expansion into additional markets in the coming quarters, as this will determine how widely its lending capacity reaches businesses outside its current footprint.
Further reading
For broader context on how lending capacity is reshaping business financing, explore our Corporate Finance coverage.
More information
Visit the European Credit Company corporate website for details on its lending approach and presence.
