Category Archives: Small Business

Small Business Press Releases & News distributed via EuropaWire

EIB and Hellenic Republic Celebrate Completion of Greek Guarantee Fund Supporting Over 800 Businesses

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Hellenic Republic have concluded the Greek Guarantee Fund (GGF), a major financial initiative that has supported over 800 SMEs and mid-cap firms across Greece since its launch in 2014. Despite difficult … Read the full press release

Perse Technology Partners with EDF to Hit Emissions and Cost Reduction Targets for SMEs

(IN BRIEF) Perse Technology has partnered with EDF to roll out the Optimise Platform, enabling UK SMEs to evaluate and implement cost‑effective, low‑carbon solutions such as solar panels and heat pumps without onsite surveys; the data‑driven tool calculates both financial … Read the full press release

Aging SME Owners in Germany Drive a 20‑Point Investment Gap, KfW Study Finds

(IN BRIEF) KfW’s latest SME Panel analysis shows a persistent investment gap between younger and older business owners in Germany: from 2004 to 2023, firms led by under‑40 entrepreneurs reinvested 58 percent on average, compared to 38 percent for over‑60 owners. Driven … Read the full press release

Spain Joins InvestEU Export Credit Guarantee to Boost Spanish-Ukraine Trade and Reconstruction

(IN BRIEF) Spain has joined nine other EU countries in the InvestEU Ukraine Export Credit Guarantee Facility, signing on via Cesce and ICO/FIEM to support Spanish SMEs and mid-caps exporting machinery, construction materials, technologies, and services to Ukraine. Backed by … Read the full press release

Latvia’s Altum Joins €300 Million EU Guarantee Scheme to Boost Exports for Ukraine Reconstruction

(IN BRIEF) Latvia’s finance institution Altum has signed up for the InvestEU Ukraine Export Credit Guarantee Facility, becoming the tenth EU country to do so alongside nine others. The facility, backed by the EIF and part of the EIB Group, … Read the full press release

Catalan SMEs to Benefit from €100 Million EIB–ICF Green Investment Loan

(IN BRIEF) The EIB and ICF have launched a €100 million loan—the initial tranche of a total €200 million facility—to finance sustainability-focused projects by Catalan SMEs. ICF will use these funds to underwrite investments in renewable energy systems, energy-efficiency retrofits, … Read the full press release

German SMEs Rely on Promotional Funds for 22 Percent of Their Climate Investments in 2023, KfW Analysis Shows

(IN BRIEF) The 2023 KfW Climate Barometer special analysis shows that German SMEs now finance 22 percent of their climate investments through public promotional funds—up three points since 2021—while promotional support makes up only 13 percent of overall SME investment. … Read the full press release

EIB Group and VEHIS Launch PLN 2.6 Billion Auto-Lease Securitisation to Boost Polish SMEs

(IN BRIEF) The EIB Group and VEHIS have structured a cash securitisation to issue PLN 2.6 billion of auto-lease financing for Polish SMEs and mid-caps. The EIB buys PLN 637 million of senior notes, while EIF guarantees an equivalent amount … Read the full press release

EIB and WFP Launch Climate-Risk Insurance Partnership in Ethiopia and Expand Food Security Initiatives

(IN BRIEF) During the FfD4 conference in Seville, the EIB announced expanded collaborations with the World Food Programme, the FAO, and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to tackle food insecurity, promote sustainable agriculture, and build resilience against climate … Read the full press release

EIB Invests €21 Million in DanAds to Democratize Premium Ad Inventory for SMEs

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank is extending a €21 million venture debt loan to adtech firm DanAds to scale its self-serve, AI-powered platform that automates ad sales directly within publisher websites. This financing, under InvestEU, will enable DanAds to … Read the full press release

EIB and Banque El Amana Launch €20 Million Facility to Advance Sustainable Fisheries and Inclusive SME Growth in Mauritania

(IN BRIEF) At FfD4 in Seville, the EIB and Banque El Amana signed a €20 million loan facility to on-lend to Mauritanian SMEs in the seafood value chain. Forty percent of the funds are reserved expressly for women-led (30 percent) … Read the full press release

EIB and CaixaBank Forge €450 Million Guarantee to Mobilize €900 Million for Spanish SMEs and Mid-Caps

(IN BRIEF) The EIB has agreed a €450 million risk-sharing guarantee with CaixaBank, enabling up to €900 million in new loans to Spanish SMEs and mid-caps for working capital, liquidity, and investments in green and digital initiatives. Of this amount, … Read the full press release

EBRD Provides €25 Million Loan to PBZ Leasing to Boost Green Investments by Croatian MSMEs

(IN BRIEF) The EBRD has provided a €25 million loan to PBZ Leasing for on-lending to Croatian MSMEs, dedicating at least 30 percent of the funds to green asset leases. This initiative advances the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition goals by … Read the full press release

FourTwoThree Launches with NatWest, NAB, and SC Ventures to Mobilize $50 Trillion in SME Climate Financing

(IN BRIEF) FourTwoThree, backed by NatWest Group, NAB, and SC Ventures, launches a bank-integrated data and engagement platform aimed at mobilizing the $50 trillion SME transition financing market. The solution automates secure data sharing and Scope 3 carbon footprint calculations, … Read the full press release

EBRD Commits €38.2 Million to Bosqar Invest’s €143.2 Million Sustainability-Linked Bond, Croatia’s Largest Private SLB

(IN BRIEF) The EBRD has invested €38.2 million via private placement into Bosqar Invest’s record-breaking €143.2 million dual-tranche SLB—the largest private-sector sustainability-linked bond in Croatian history. The issuance consists of a €105.0 million public tranche to be listed on the … Read the full press release

EU Guarantee Scheme Unlocks €886 Million in Concessional Loans to Boost SMEs and Jobs in the Western Balkans

(IN BRIEF) The EU-funded Western Balkans Guarantee 4 SME Resilience programme has catalyzed €886 million in concessional loans for SMEs in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, aiming to support 15,000 firms and preserve 140,000 jobs. Backed by a … Read the full press release

Standard Chartered and ALTIOS Partnership Unites Banking and Advisory Services for SME International Expansion

(IN BRIEF) Standard Chartered and ALTIOS have entered into a partnership to help SMEs set up and grow their overseas operations in Hong Kong, India, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. ALTIOS will provide market-entry strategies, incorporation services, partner and … Read the full press release

EIB Triples Defence SME Financing to €3 Billion with First Deutsche Bank Partnership

(IN BRIEF) The EIB is tripling its intermediated lending for European defence-industry suppliers from €1 billion to €3 billion. It has signed an inaugural €500 million loan agreement with Deutsche Bank, which will provide €1 billion in credit lines to … Read the full press release

EBRD and ProCredit Bank Bulgaria Sign €14 Million InvestEU Deal to Expand Green Loans in Bulgaria and Greece

(IN BRIEF) The EBRD has signed a €14 million portfolio guarantee agreement with ProCredit Bank Bulgaria under the EU’s InvestEU programme, enabling the bank to offer more green loans to businesses in Bulgaria and Greece. This risk-sharing facility will support … Read the full press release

BIL Renews Sponsorship for Creative Young Entrepreneur Luxembourg to Support Emerging Talent

(IN BRIEF) Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) has renewed its sponsorship for Creative Young Entrepreneur Luxembourg (CYEL), a competition that celebrates the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of young Luxembourgers. As the main sponsor since 2020, BIL remains committed to fostering … Read the full press release