NPEX Receives European Crowdfunding License

NPEX, the Dutch securities exchange for SMEs, obtained a European crowdfunding license from the Authority for the Financial Markets. This so-called European Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSP) license sets NPEX apart in a consolidating cowboy market.

The ECSP license allows NPEX to offer crowdfunding services throughout the EU. It strengthens NPEX’s ambition as a trading platform to bring investors and SMEs together, also in other EU countries.

EU’s single crowdfunding market

Before the introduction of European legislation, crowdfunding providers in Europe had to navigate a patchwork of national consumer protection laws and regulations. “Now there is a single framework for all EU crowdfunding providers that must meet the same requirements,” says Mark van der Plas, NPEX ceo. “That means more competition, better supervision, more opportunities for investors, and more possibilities for entrepreneurs seeking funding.”

Investors who invest through NPEX can rely on the platform meeting strict requirements regarding processes, systems, quality, and integrity.

The ECSP license is an important recognition of our efforts to facilitate SME financing

Mark van der Plas, CEO of NPEX

NPEX CFO Patrick van Laar ads: “We operated already under the stringent requirements imposed by the investment firm and MTF licenses. The combination of these licenses with the new ECSP license makes NPEX unique in the fintech landscape. This new license is crucial for growing internationally. The issuance of loans, bonds, and shares up to €5 million will be facilitated in accordance with the ECSP. NPEX can also continue to facilitate amounts above €5 million with a prospectus approved by the AFM. The ability to trade securities on NPEX makes crowdfunding projects more attractive for investing in non-listed companies or long-term sustainable energy projects.”

The ECSP license is crucial for growing internationally.

Patrick van Laar, CFO NPEX

Icecat became shareholder in NPEX earlier this year in a new investment round, to support its international ambitions.