Hipoges is preparing to enter the real estate development financing market, aiming to fill the gap left by traditional banks, which are increasingly constrained by European Central Bank policies. “Diversification has become a natural and strategic step,” says co-CEO Hugo Velez to ECO. Operating in four countries and managing over €50 billion in assets, the company is also eyeing expansion into France and a potential return to Brazil.

LX Partners, based in Luxembourg, is shifting focus toward sectors like self-storage — via its operator Perfect Space — and SME financing. Its newly launched fund, Five Credit, holds €300 million to support around 5,000 Portuguese SMEs, particularly in their green transition, offering faster and more flexible funding options than traditional banks.

The sector is far from the “golden era” of the last decade, when major banks offloaded billions in toxic assets. With NPL levels at record lows (below 5%) and a modestly growing economy, no strong market rebound is expected. Some players, such as Italy’s DoValue, have exited the Portuguese market. Others, like Hipoges and LX Partners, are adapting — and positioning themselves for long-term growth.

Original Story: ECO | Author: Alberto Teixeira
Edição e tradução: Prime Yield