Thematic Scope

The European Commission adopted two new "off-the-shelf", i.e. "ready-to-use" financial instruments for ESI Funds investments, to ease access to funding for young businesses and urban development project promoters.  

The Commission is launching two new off-the-shelf instruments:

1. Co-investment facility to provide funding to start-ups and SMEs.
2. Urban development funds will support sustainable urban projects,
   in public transport, energy efficiency or the regeneration of urban 
   areas, for example.
    

Our two-day training on financial instruments focusing on equity, quasi equity and guarantees. This training will be performed on advanced level and includes several practical case studies and inform about the latest informations by the European Commission.

The application of financial instruments (FI) shall expand significantly in the programming period 2014-20. Whereas many public bodies have used loans and guarantees in the past, the current engagement with the private sector requires new ways of financing and the EU monies are subsequently used to provide support for innovative investments by way of loans, guarantees, or equity. Many Managing Authorities have already finished their ex-ante assessments and decided to introduce equity instruments or broaden their use. 
Our experts will help you understand what are the next steps for an efficient establishment of the financial instruments:

• What kind of funding agreement is suited best for what situation?
• How to design equity, quasi equity and guarantees and set up funds?
• How to make sure that the financial instrument responds to the market need?
• What are the requirements of State aid law for equity, quasi equity and guarantees?
• What if my project does not align with the risk finance guidelines? How to notify the financial instruments against the treaty?
• How to comply with the procurement requirements, and how to design legally sound competitive calls?
• What are the advantages and challenges of equity and convertible loans?

Topics covered

• Advantages of equity and quasi equity investments assisting companies in the early stages of the development, i.e. seed, startup and early expansion stages
• Financial intermediaries and the links to State aid and public procurement requirements
• Practical workshop on guarantees
• Investments for sustainable urban development and the experiences with the JEREMIE programme in the previous programming period
• Financing Research, Innovation and Development by institutional investing in venture capital
• The co-investment facility
• Early Stage Funds and ERDF co-financing
• Risk assessment

Your benefits

• Receive practical, first hand advice by representatives of the European institutions, national managing authorities as well as financial intermediaries and holding funds
• Learn how to tackle implementation challenges
• Ask all questions about the next steps after your institution has decided to use equity or quasi equity
• Meet experienced experts from European, national and regional authorities and learn how to ensure proper management of your new instruments
• Ensure proper legal compliance and get prepared for audit procedures
• Become acquainted with national best practices
• Profit from excellent networking opportunities when meeting EU Funds experts from all over Europe

Focus group

The training is tailored to those bodies who have already performed their ex-ante assessment (or are about to do so), decided to design financial instruments and struggle with the next steps.

Experts responsible for 

• Design of Financial Instruments
• Legal environment for the development of seed fund and financial flows  
• Business finance
• Risk management

in:

• ERDF and ESF Managing, Audit and Certifying Authorities and Intermediate Bodies
• Holding and Development Funds
• Financial Intermediaries

ESI Funds experts involved in the design and implementation of FI in public authorities such as:

• National ministries for finance and the economy
• National and regional development banks
• Regional and local governments
• City councils
• National and Regional Development Agencies for Economic Growth
• Private banks and othe financial institutions
• Research institutes

Lawyers and consultants specialized in public affairs advising the above institutions

Methodology

You will be actively involved in the training. The sessions will combine presentations, case studies and discussion on practical problems. You will have ample opportunities to present your own problematic issues and discuss them with the speakers and participants from other Member States.
Do you want to ensure, that our experts cover the topics most interesting for you? Just send us your cases and questions in advance. We will forward them to our speakers who will include your issues the programme and answer them during the training.

All information concerning your problems and cases will be treated confidentially.