Investment & Fund Management

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Credito Emiliano (CREDEM GROUP) signed a guarantee agreement aimed at supporting innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Small Mid-caps in Italy. This initiative, funded by the European Commission under the Risk Sharing Instrument (RSI), allows CREDEM to provide up to EUR 80 million in financing to innovative companies until the end of 2015. The EIF offers a 50% guarantee on the loans, which significantly reduces the risk for the bank and enables it to offer favorable lending conditions.

The specific challenge faced by CREDEM was the need to enhance its lending capabilities to innovative businesses, which often struggle to secure financing due to perceived risks associated with their projects. The tailored solution provided by the EIF through the RSI agreement not only mitigated these risks but also aligned with CREDEM's strategic goal of increasing support for SMEs engaged in research and development.

As a result of this partnership, CREDEM is expected to increase the volume of loans and leases granted to innovative SMEs, thereby facilitating their access to necessary funding. This initiative is part of a broader effort that has already made over EUR 2.5 billion available to innovative businesses across the EU, demonstrating a significant impact on the financing landscape for SMEs in Italy and beyond.