Question 1

What is Capitole Finance?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance is a specialized French credit institution focused on leasing and equipment financing. As a 100% subsidiary of Caisse d'Epargne de Midi-Pyrénées, itself part of the larger BPCE banking group, Capitole Finance operates as a dedicated leasing company serving both professionals and individuals. The institution specializes in crédit-bail mobilier (equipment leasing), Location avec Option d'Achat (LOA - lease with purchase option), and financial leasing solutions. With over 55 years of experience in the French market, Capitole Finance has grown to employ more than 180 professionals and operates under three distinct commercial brands.

Question 2

When was Capitole Finance founded?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance traces its origins to 1970, when Banque Courtois created Capitole Location, a subsidiary specialized in leasing products designed to finance businesses through equipment leasing (Crédit-Bail Mobilier) and lease-with-purchase-option products for vehicles. In 1993, Banque Courtois was acquired by Crédit Nord, and Capitole Location was subsequently sold to Caisse d'Epargne de Midi-Pyrénées.

The company was a pioneer in LOA products, launching innovative lease-with-purchase-option offerings in 1999 with residual values calculated based on vehicle usage. In 2003, all group entities consolidated their operations in Labège, near Toulouse. The current entity, Capitole Finance-Tofinso, was officially created in June 2005 when the various business lines were merged. A Paris office was opened in 2006 to expand national reach.

Question 3

Where is Capitole Finance headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance is headquartered in Labège Cedex, in the Haute-Garonne department near Toulouse in the Occitanie region of southern France. The specific address is 2839 La Lauragaise, 31670 Labège.

Question 4

Where does Capitole Finance operate?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance operates throughout mainland France on a national scale. While headquartered in the Toulouse metropolitan area in southwestern France, the institution has established a presence across the country to serve clients nationwide. The company maintains a Paris office to ensure strong coverage in the capital region, complementing its southern France headquarters. All operations are conducted within France, providing localized service and expertise across different French regions.

Question 5

What services does Capitole Finance offer?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance offers specialized financing solutions through three distinct brands:

LIZequip provides equipment financing for businesses, including crédit-bail mobilier (equipment leasing) and location financière (financial leasing) for professional equipment across various sectors including industrial machinery, construction equipment, and specialized professional tools.

LIZauto specializes in vehicle financing for both businesses and individuals, offering LOA (lease with purchase option), long-term rental (LLD - Location Longue Durée), and dedicated vehicle financing solutions. The company operates a subsidiary, ALT (Auto Location Toulouse), which serves as its automotive purchasing center.

LIZmer focuses on recreational boat financing, providing LOA, crédit-bail mobilier, and dedicated credit products for pleasure craft of all types.

The institution emphasizes rapid processing times, with typical financing requests analyzed, validated, and paid within approximately 8 days. Digital platforms support online financing applications and customer account management.

Question 6

What makes Capitole Finance unique?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance distinguishes itself through its specialized niche expertise in three distinct but complementary markets: professional equipment, automotive, and nautical financing. This focused approach allows the institution to develop deep sector knowledge and customized solutions for each market segment.

The company is recognized for exceptional speed and responsiveness, with the ability to process complete financing applications from submission to payment in as little as 8 days. This efficiency is backed by dedicated teams for each sector who understand the specific needs and challenges of their markets.

As a subsidiary of a major French banking group (BPCE), Capitole Finance combines the stability and resources of a large institution with the agility and personalized service of a specialized lender. The company has been certified as a Great Place To Work, reflecting its commitment to employee satisfaction and workplace culture.

Capitole Finance has pioneered innovative products in the French market, including being an early adopter of usage-based residual value calculations for LOA products launched in 1999.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Capitole Finance?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance is classified as a Établissement de crédit spécialisé (specialized credit institution) in France, specifically operating as a société de crédit-bail (leasing company). Under European Banking Authority classification, it holds the status of CRD credit institution (CRDCREINS).

The institution is authorized and supervised by the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) at the national level and by the European Central Bank (ECB) under the Single Supervisory Mechanism. It is registered with ORIAS (Organisme pour le Registre des Intermédiaires en Assurance) under number 08040602, enabling it to offer insurance intermediation services alongside its financing activities.

Capitole Finance participates in the Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution (FGDR), France's deposit guarantee scheme, which protects eligible deposits up to €100,000 per depositor. The institution holds a capital social of €32,293,310 and operates as a Société Anonyme à Directoire (limited company with a management board structure).

Question 8

What is Capitole Finance's relationship with the BPCE Group?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance operates as a 100% subsidiary of Caisse d'Epargne de Midi-Pyrénées, which is itself part of the Groupe BPCE (Banque Populaire Caisse d'Epargne), one of France's largest banking groups. This ownership structure provides Capitole Finance with the financial backing and resources of a major French banking institution while allowing it to maintain operational independence and specialized focus on leasing markets.

The relationship with BPCE enables Capitole Finance to benefit from group-wide infrastructure, risk management frameworks, and funding capabilities, while delivering the personalized service and market expertise characteristic of a specialized lender. This structure aligns with the French banking system's traditional model of universal banks maintaining specialized subsidiaries for specific business lines.

Question 9

How does Capitole Finance approach environmental sustainability?

Accepted Answer

Capitole Finance has integrated climate action as a strategic priority across all business activities, establishing a dual objective: accompanying clients in their environmental transition while accelerating the reduction of the company's own carbon footprint.

The institution incorporates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into its financing decisions and risk assessment frameworks. This approach aligns with broader European banking regulations under CRD6 and CRR3, which require French credit institutions to integrate ESG risks into governance frameworks, remuneration policies, and capital adequacy assessment processes (ICAAP).

By financing equipment, vehicles, and boats, Capitole Finance plays a role in enabling clients to access newer, more efficient assets that often have better environmental performance than older equipment. The company's commitment to environmental responsibility reflects both regulatory requirements and market demands from increasingly sustainability-conscious customers.

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