Investment & Fund Management

The European Investment Fund (EIF) participated as an investor in a significant SME securitisation transaction, which was originated by the National Bank of Greece (NBG). This marked a pivotal moment as it was the first public SME securitisation transaction conducted by a Greek financial institution, signaling NBG's return to capital markets. The transaction aimed to diversify NBG's financing sources and enhance its lending capabilities.

As part of the agreement, NBG committed to deploying an amount equal to twice the funds received from the securitisation for new lending to Greek SMEs. This strategic move was designed to bolster the bank's lending commitments, thereby supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in Greece. EIF’s Chief Executive, Pier Luigi Gilibert, emphasized the alignment of this investment with EIF's mission to provide risk financing to financial institutions for the benefit of SMEs, highlighting the expected positive impact on the lending landscape for Greek businesses.

In the previous year, EIF had committed approximately EUR 1 billion to various securitisation transactions, which included support for mezzanine tranches and initiatives aimed at providing funding and regulatory capital relief. This particular transaction with NBG not only represented a milestone for the bank but also underscored EIF's ongoing commitment to enhancing access to finance for SMEs across Europe.