Group 1 - Jefferies Financial Group has entered the Saudi Arabian private credit market by leading a $125 million financing deal for fintech startup Erad [1] - The financing will provide an asset-backed scalable financing tool to help Erad expand its lending to local SMEs in Saudi Arabia [1] - This move positions Jefferies among major Wall Street investment banks exploring private credit opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region [1] Group 2 - There is a significant demand for new funding sources in the SME sector, which often struggles to secure support from local banks [2] - SMEs are considered the backbone of the Gulf region's economic diversification, facing a financing gap of $250 billion that limits their growth potential [2] - The financing tool will enable Erad to meet the growing financing needs of SMEs in the Gulf region and expand its service offerings beyond traditional consumer sectors to include manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and real estate services [2]