EIB credit line

The EIB is strengthening its support for SMEs and MidCaps by helping this important sector to access vital new lines of credit. The loan term is of a minimum of 2 years (the actual length of the loan will depend on the economic and technical life of the project financed) and it can be used to finance from very small projects to investments with a maximum cost of EUR 25million. The EIB’s contribution, however, cannot exceed EUR 12.5 million.

• Local SMEs with less than 250 employees on a consolidated basis prior to the investment; 
• Local MidCaps with less than 3 000 employees on a consolidated basis prior to the investment;
• Most economic sectors and activities are eligible with a few exceptions, amongst which production of weapons and ammunition, arms, military or police equipment or infrastructures, equipment or infrastructure limiting people’s individual rights and freedom, activities which give rise to environmental impact, activities considered ethically or morally controversial or prohibited by national legislation, activities targeting the production or sale of goods which are the subject of an act infringing a trade mark or a geographical indication,  gambling and tobacco related activities. 

The EIB loan can be used to finance new investments and expenditures that are incurred in the context of the development of an SME or a MidCap i.e.:

• Tangible investments: purchase, renovation or extension of tangible assets, with some restrictions concerning land purchases. 
• Intangible investments: particularly the expenditure involved in R&D, purchase of process licenses and software 
• Medium and long-term working capital requirements needed for the operational activity of the SME or MidCap.

• You can receive beneficial interest rates compared to standard business lending conditions. 
• You can negotiate the term or repayment frequency of the loan to suit the circumstances and cash-flow requirements of your business. 
• It allows you to invest significantly in your business without adversely affecting your cash-flow or liquidity. 

In case this was requested by the EIB (a) upon reasonable notice, you should permit the EIB representatives to visit and inspect all sites, installations and works that comprise the project which is the subject of the loan; and (b) we may provide  information about you to the EIB.