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Version: May 13, 2024

Description of credit risk assessment model and loan pricing methods

Last updated: Nov 12, 2025
Published in accordance with Article 19(6) of Regulation (EU) 2020/1503

This description of methods used to assign creditworthiness categories to crowdfunding projects on the Capitalia platform is published on the platform website. Investors are informed of changes to methods by publishing an updated version of this description with the last update date at the top of the website. Changes compared with the previous version are highlighted in blue for easier identification. If changes to methods cause material changes to assessment model results, an additional explanation is added.

Capitalia updates its credit assessment policy at least once every two years to reflect changes in loan outcomes depending on their risk characteristics and other relevant factors. Capitalia has implemented quality assurance procedures to periodically verify correctness and consistency of creditworthiness assessment application for issued loans in accordance with the model and internal policy.

Essence of the model used to calculate creditworthiness assessments

Capitalia assigns a creditworthiness assessment and corresponding risk category to each project published on the platform. The project creditworthiness assessment is calculated using a judgement-based model in which statistical measures are integrated with elements based on decision-makers' insights. Capitalia uses an internally developed creditworthiness assessment calculation model. The creditworthiness assessment is used to rank projects by expected losses over the full life of the loan. Capitalia's risk category does not indicate probability of default, but ranks projects by expected losses.

Type of information used to prepare the creditworthiness assessment model

Information sourceInformation category
From the Project owner

Interim financial statements for the current year with detailed breakdown of largest positions;
Annual reports for previous years;
Project owner bank account statement for the last 12 months or for the entire operating history if the Project owner has operated for less than 12 months;
Information on collateral and independent valuation where required;
Explanations of the Project owner's activities and financing need.

If unaudited financial statements are used for assessment, the Project owner representative must certify the truthfulness of submitted information by signature. Audited financial statements increase the project creditworthiness assessment.

In addition, Capitalia performs limited validation of unaudited financial statement data by comparing it with other data.

From external credit registersCredit history of the Project owner and guarantor
From publicly available information Project owner tax payment discipline (tax arrears);
Media publications and references to the Project owner;
Financial indicators of comparable companies;
Default statistics by industry
From other sourcesProject owner credit history with Capitalia financing products

Factors taken into account in the credit assessment model

Each factor benchmark and weight is determined taking into account absolute values and industry benchmarks. Values and weights are determined based on Capitalia experience with similar-sized companies in the relevant industry.

Financial factors

FactorUnit of measure
Profitability of the crowdfunding projectNet profitability
Cash flow generated by the crowdfunding project Company turnover (compared with similar companies)
Historical turnover growth rate
Working capital to revenue ratio (debtor days, creditor days, inventory turnover)
Cash flow seasonality fluctuations
Debt/EBITDA ratio
Leverage, debt level and Project owner solvency Debt/EBITDA ratio*
Equity to assets ratio*
Liquidity ratio
Asset liquidation value to liabilities ratio
Project owner credit history Negative credit history records in public databases*
Credit history records with Capitalia*
Tax payment discipline*
Availability of collateral and guaranteesAdjusted LTV (if the loan has collateral)

The total weight of financial factors in assessment model results is 65%. For indicators marked with *, if the minimum threshold is not met, the project is disqualified.

Non-financial factors

Non-financial factorsUnit of measure
Macroeconomic conditions in the jurisdiction where the project will be implementedAs Capitalia issues loans only in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – countries with very similar macroeconomic conditions – this factor is not taken into account in the creditworthiness assessment calculation method.
Level of competition in the industry where the project will be developed Default rates in the Project owner's industry;
Company customer concentration indicator
Project owner knowledge and experience in the specific business industry. Company age (in years)
Company dependence on key employees (assessment)
Project owner reputationMedia search results, data on previous bankruptcies or litigation
Other Company size (number of employees)
Employee productivity (revenue per employee)
Whether financial statements are audited
Financial transparency indicators** Transparency of ownership structure
Share of related-party transactions
Share of cash transactions

The total share of non-financial factors in assessment model results is 35%.

** Financial transparency indicators are taken into account when assessing risks arising from money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

Calculation and approval of creditworthiness assessment

Using the input data described in the previous section, Capitalia calculates the project creditworthiness assessment in the following order:

Step sequenceStep description
1
Disqualifying factors.
Some assessment factors (for example, credit history) have defined critical threshold values.
2
Calculation of Project owner creditworthiness assessment based on unsecured loan.
The Project owner creditworthiness assessment is calculated as the sum of all model indicator points on a scale from 0 to 100 points. The credit rating for each project assigns a creditworthiness assessment indicating the Project owner's creditworthiness category as if credit were granted without collateral or other risk mitigation measures. This step is used as an intermediate stage in calculating project risk assessment.
3
Calculation of project creditworthiness assessment.
The creditworthiness assessment calculated in the previous step is increased based on collateral, guarantees or other risk mitigation measures by 0 to 15 points, but not exceeding 100 points in total. The assigned creditworthiness assessment and creditworthiness category are used to rank projects by expected losses over the full life of the loan.
4
Manual creditworthiness assessment adjustment

The Investment Committee may adjust the creditworthiness assessment by adding or subtracting up to 10 points.

The Investment Committee may adjust the credit score if committee members consider that the credit score assessment does not adequately reflect the project risk level, taking into account qualitative assessment factors or loan collateral characteristics.

The Investment Committee may also reject a project regardless of its credit score if it considers this to be in investors' interests.

Assessment model results

Results of the Capitalia loan assessment model are as follows:
  • Creditworthiness assessment (from 0 to 100) and corresponding risk category from E to A+.
  • Available Capitalia credit limit (maximum limit for a new loan to the Project owner that can be raised on the platform, EUR).

The assigned creditworthiness assessment and creditworthiness category are used to rank projects by expected losses over the full life of the loan. Capitalia credit rating does not indicate probability of default, but ranks projects by expected losses.

Capitalia compiles and publishes forecasts of expected default levels for the next period, updating these indicators annually. The qualitative interpretation of each risk category reflects the relative risk of a loan in the lending segment in which Capitalia operates (loans to small and medium-sized enterprises in the Baltic states). Based on the approved creditworthiness assessment, the following risk category is assigned:

Creditworthiness assessmentRisk category (credit rating)Qualitative interpretation of resultsForward-looking expected default rates for next period (2025)
96+A+ (1+)Very low risk + collateral3%
90-95A (1)Very low risk5%
80-89B (2)Low risk6.75%
70-79C (3)Moderate risk9%
60-69D (4)Acceptable risk7%
50-59E (5)High risk
Below 50N/ALoan is rejected

Impact of assessment results on other loan parameters

The maximum loan that can be offered to a potential Project owner is determined by the calculated available Capitalia credit limit. By Investment Committee decision it may be increased by no more than 50%.

Maximum loan term does not depend on results of the project credit assessment model.

Credit score and creditworthiness assessment updates during loan term

The initial risk category (from A+ to E) assigned to systematically assess and determine viability of a crowdfunding project from a risk perspective at the project assessment stage is not changed during the loan term unless serious deterioration of project creditworthiness is identified. Loan revaluation and assignment of an adjusted risk category are triggered by negative credit events. Adjusted risk categories have different grade levels that do not overlap with the initial grade scale described above. Adjusted risk categories are determined based on loan overdue days and other negative credit events. Adjusted risk categories are used for loan valuation.

Description of pricing method

Capitalia seeks to ensure fair and appropriate pricing of loans issued on the platform. This section describes elements taken into account in the pricing strategy. Loan price is set at a level that compensates risks assumed by investors. The price of an individual loan is determined by Capitalia Investment Committee decision based on the board-approved pricing model.

Element taken into account in pricing strategyHow it affects pricing
Loan principal amountOverall loan size generally does not affect the interest rate offered to investors on the loan. However, the price of an individual loan may be adjusted considering platform investor demand for projects to ensure all published projects are successfully funded.
Loan termThe pricing model reflects market interest rates depending on loan term. Furthermore, the longer the loan term, the greater the repayment risk. Therefore, the longer the loan term, the higher the interest rate.
Timing structure of repayable portionsA loan with interest payments (monthly interest payments, principal repayment at maturity) carries higher repayment risk. Therefore, if a loan has a bullet schedule, it has a higher interest rate.
Assessment model resultsThe project risk category defined as a creditworthiness indicator (50-100) reflects relative riskiness of the loan and is the main input in pricing. The lower the risk indicator, the higher the interest rate.
Existence of additional guaranteesIf a loan is secured by a European Investment Fund guarantee, the interest rate is reduced compared with loans with the same risk category and term.

Other factors that could affect pricing are already included in the creditworthiness assessment calculation model, whose results accordingly affect pricing.

Crowdfunding offer pricing at loan disbursement

Loan price is approved at the time of disbursement. The loan interest rate offered to investors is determined in accordance with the pricing strategy described in the previous section.

In addition, the Project owner pays Capitalia a loan origination fee of up to 5% of the loan amount and a project servicing fee of 2.5% to 7% per year on the outstanding loan amount per year. These fees cover Capitalia operating and administrative costs.

Crowdfunding offer pricing after loan disbursement

Capitalia generally does not change loan price after disbursement. To cover additional costs related to work with overdue loans, Capitalia retains as a fee 75% of default interest paid by Project owners on overdue loans.

Capitalia charges Project owners fees for amendments to loan agreement terms and other additional services in accordance with the price list published on the Capitalia website.