Invest-NL and EIF sign guarantee agreement supporting €35,7 million of new financing for sustainability projects by Dutch SMEs

• The European Investment Fund and Dutch national promotional institution Invest-NL have agreed a guarantee deal to increase support for sustainability projects by Dutch SMEs.
• Some €35,7 million in new funding to become available, backed under the InvestEU portfolio guarantee of the European Commission.
• Invest-NL board member Jellie Banga signed the deal with EIF chief executive Marjut Falkstedt during an event in Luxembourg for the EIF’s 30^th anniversary.

Following the signature, yesterday, of a guarantee agreement between Invest-NL and the European Investment Fund (EIF), €35,7 million of new financing will become available for sustainability projects by Dutch SMEs. At an event in Luxembourg marking the EIF’s 30^th anniversary, Member of the Executive Board of Invest-NL Jellie Banga closed the deal with EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt, to enhance funding for green projects by Dutch small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. The transaction marks a significant step forward in the rollout of the InvestEU programme in the Netherlands.

The new guarantee will enable Invest-NL to improve financing conditions for entrepreneurs, for example through providing long-term senior and subordinated debt at more favourable conditions, such as lower collateral requirements, thereby promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.

“We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Invest-NL under the InvestEU programme.” says Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund. “We recently opened our permanent representation for the Benelux in Amsterdam, and this guarantee agreement will not only contribute to greening the local economy but also enhance the resilience and competitiveness of European SMEs and small mid-caps in general."

Jellie Banga, Member of the Executive Board of Invest-NL, stated: "This agreement with the European Investment Fund enables us to strengthen our mission: to support and accelerate sustainable and innovative transitions in the Netherlands. By offering better financing conditions, we can help more businesses achieve their sustainability ambitions."

The signing ceremony took place at the EIF headquarters in Luxembourg, marking the next step towards a more sustainable and innovative Europe. The guarantee agreement, which covers a portion of Invest-NL's credit risk, is a crucial tool for stimulating investments concerning climate change and sustainability. Invest-NL expects to support around 18 new projects with the newly available funding.

Background information:

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

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments previously available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Invest-NL is the National Financing and Development Institution of the Netherlands. As a leading impact investor, its mission is to provide financing to companies and innovations that currently do not have sufficient access to existing financing options. Invest-NL works together with various stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, other financiers and investors, and development specialists from both the public and private sector. Together with its partners, Invest-NL’s objective is to accelerate the major social transitions that the Netherlands is facing in order to contribute to a sustainable and innovative Netherlands. Invest-NL focuses on the transition to a sustainable and circular economy, promoting affordable and accessible healthcare and stimulating technological innovations.

Press contacts:

EIB Group:                   Tim Smit | +352 691 28 64 23 | t.smit@eib.org

Europese Commissie:  Ignazio Cocchiere | +32 2 29 82261 | ignazio.cocchiere@ec.europa.eu