Beyond the headline: where is growth emerging in European asset finance?

Combined receivables across Europe’s top 50 auto and equipment finance providers grew by 1.9% on a like-for-like basis in 2025, but the headline masks considerable differences between individual businesses.

The AFE50 Report 2026 examines those differences through annual growth tables and three- and five-year performance comparisons, providing a broader view of how the market is developing.

Lloyds recorded the strongest percentage growth in 2025, while Société Générale achieved the largest absolute increase in receivables. Several providers translated portfolio expansion into movement up the main ranking.

Looking over a longer period changes the perspective. BNP Paribas leads absolute growth over both three and five years, while CHG-Meridian stands out for its five-year percentage increase.

These measures answer different questions. Absolute growth highlights the volume added to a portfolio, while percentage growth shows expansion relative to a provider’s starting position. Neither should automatically be interpreted as organic growth: acquisitions and changes in group structure can also influence performance.

Published by Finance Connect in association with Asset Finance Policy and sponsored by Alfa, the report includes the methodology and assumptions needed to interpret the comparisons.