Financial Engineering Instruments for SMEs, Slovenia

This study describes how European Union co-financed financial instruments mixed with grants contributed to a better business environment under the ‘Programme of Financial Engineering Instruments for small and medium-sized enterprises’. This innovative programme combined funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and national resources, creating synergies such as encouraging debt financing with grants and strengthening access to financial products with technical support. 

Close cooperation between public authorities, financial intermediaries and other public and private bodies ensured financial products that were suitable to the needs of final recipients, contributing to the success of the initiative. The financial products (loans, guarantees, and equity investments combined with technical support) directly assisted 2 294 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to tackle low productivity, liquidity constraints and under-capitalisation.