Schelcher Prince Gestion’s expertise in Private Debt recognised by the European Investment Fund

After a first investment in 2019 in the SME compartment of SP EuroCréances 2020, the European Investment Fund (EIF) is increasing its exposure to the same compartment with an additional investment in the Classique compartment of the same fund. This fund has been selected by the EIF in the context of the European Guarantee Fund (EGF) to support SME and small mid-caps affected by the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund was deploying and investing during the pandemic and this additional investment from EIF will allow to support French companies hit by COVID, allowing them to benefit from EU crisis funds.

SP EuroCréances 2020 is a private debt fund of €460 million with 2 compartments, which invests mainly in senior secured loans to French SMEs and Small Mid-Caps. The fund is managed by the private debt team of Schelcher Prince Gestion and has already lent to 25 companies and is envisaged to provide financing to additional 25 to reach the target of 50 European companies financed by the fund.

This additional investment by the European Investment Fund (EIF) in SP EuroCréances 2020 is the first investment made as part of the deployment of the Pan-European Guarantee Fund (EGF) established to address the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of the measures taken by the European institutions to limit the effects of the crisis on the economy. The objective is to support tailor-made financing solutions for SMEs and mid-sized companies. This investment is a continuation of the EIF's first investment in SP EuroCréances 2020 initiated under the Investment Plan for Europe, or Juncker Plan.

Sébastien Barbe, Chief Executive of Schelcher Prince Gestion, said: “We have been committed for more than 7 years now to providing financing solutions to SMEs and mid-sized companies, the heart of our economy. We are proud of the trust that the EIF has placed in Schelcher Prince Gestion. It is a great recognition of the know-how of our private debt team.”

European Investment Fund Chief Executive Alain Godard added: “The European Guarantee Fund allows the EIF to provide more finance to European SMEs, allowing them to grow. As in other countries, businesses in France have had to deal with the restrictions related to the COVID pandemic and the EIF is glad to be able to partner with Schelcher Prince Gestion to make sure that this much needed financing is channelled their way.”

Background information

About Schelcher Prince Gestion

Schelcher Prince Gestion is a French asset management company, affiliated to Arkea Investment Services. Founded in 2001, Schelcher Prince Gestion was first a Fixed Incomes and Convertible Bonds boutique. Its products offer has evolved to meet the needs of investors and is now organised around 2 poles of expertise: listed assets (Absolute Return, Credit and Convertibles Bonds) and unlisted assets (private debt to corporate and infrastructure). Schelcher Prince Gestion has been integrating ESG criteria into all its assets classes since 2016 and is a PRI signatory. Schelcher Prince Gestion currently manages more than €7 billion and has around forty employees.

Schelcher Prince Gestion is also a long-standing player in SME financing, with a team of 9 dedicated professionals and over €1.5 billion under management in this area. Since 2014, Schelcher Prince Gestion has studied more than 120 investment opportunities each year and has financed more than one hundred SMEs through 5 funds. Schelcher Prince Gestion has the confidence of nearly 50 institutional investors in this asset class, including the European Investment Fund and the Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites.

About the European Investment Fund

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments, which specifically target this market segment. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment.

Press contacts:

EIB Group:

Christophe Alix, c.alix @bei.org, tél. : +352 43 79 84303 / Gsm: +33 6 11 81 30 99

Website: www.eib.org/press - Press Office: +352 4379 21000 – press@eib.org

Schelcher Prince Gestion / Arkéa Investment Services :

Amélie Willecomme – 02 98 00 24 78 - amelie.willecomme@arkea-is.com

Caroline Matuszewski – 01 56 26 72 32 / Margaux Frantz – 01 56 26 72 23 - arkeais@agence-profile.com