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European SMEs have access to nearly twice the amount of funding as their US counterparts, yet bank loans remain the most common form of SME finance in Europe. This leaves huge scope for small businesses to tap additional funding sources for loans, bonds and equities, finds new research by the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME). However, many SMEs remain unaware of the options available to them.
With a view to helping European SMEs decide what type of funding their business needs, AFME has released the first pan-European guide entitled: “Raising Finance for Europe’s Small & Medium-Sized Businesses: A practical guide to obtaining loan, bond and equity funding”. The Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the financing options available, including practical tips on where and how to access funding.
Simon Lewis, Chief Executive of AFME, said: “SMEs are at the heart of the European economy and are a key driver for economic growth, innovation and employment. By understanding the diverse funding sources available to them, European SMEs will be better able to grow and create employment. In this respect, we hope the Guide will help facilitate decision-making on critical funding choices.”
In order to encourage European SMEs to think more creatively about their financing options, AFME’s Guide explains the main types of SME finance available, namely loans provided by banks and non-banks, bonds and equity finance. It introduces sources, such as venture capital, private equity, peer-to-peer lending platforms and crowd funding websites. It also includes an extensive directory of national and pan-European organisations and schemes which provide SME support, and offers practical case studies. The Guide also provides a comparison of stock exchange requirements and issuance data for equity and bond markets across Europe.
George Passaris, head of securitisation at the European Investment Fund said: “The AFME Guide will help European SMEs make educated choices about the type of funding they need and will help to improve their chances of achieving success with loan applications and bond and equity fund-raisings. It includes a useful overview of the financing programmes available from the EIF, EIB and other European institutions to support the growth of European SMEs.”