The First Loss Portfolio Guarantee instrument in Malta

The Maltese case study is a useful example of an instrument providing financing packages for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using assistance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It multiplied an initial ERDF investment of EUR 10.2 million to result in a total of EUR 62.6 million being invested in SMEs. Furthermore, the financial intermediary provided non-financial services such as coaching and mentoring. This extra support is considered to be extremely effective, particularly for start-ups with limited financial expertise.