The European Investment Fund (EIF) has signed a guarantee agreement with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to support up to €200 million in new leasing activity for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and small mid-caps in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Supported by the European Union’s InvestEU programme, the portfolio guarantee is designed to improve access to business asset leasing. It will support investments in energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, renewable energy and green technologies.
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This is the EIF’s largest multi-country leasing guarantee linked to energy transition objectives, and the first such deal with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions under the InvestEU framework.
According to the EIF and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, the collaboration aims to stimulate business investment while contributing to environmental goals.
“This guarantee agreement with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions fulfils the core mission of both the EIF and the EIB Group: accelerating innovation and competitiveness for European SMEs while promoting sustainable economic development through tailored financial solutions,” said Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the parent of the EIF.
EIF CEO Marjut Falkstedt said the agreement would inject over €200 million into SME financing across the four countries, supporting companies in shifting to lower-carbon business models.
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By GlobalDataNeil Pein, CEO of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, said the partnership aligned with the company’s strategy of helping SMEs grow and innovate while advancing the green transition.
The EIF works with financial intermediaries including banks, leasing companies and private equity funds to deliver finance to SMEs. Its initiatives support EU policy goals including entrepreneurship, the green and digital transitions, and employment.
The InvestEU programme consolidates EU-level financial instruments to simplify and expand investment support. The InvestEU Fund, underpinned by an EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion, is expected to mobilise at least €372 billion in investment.
BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions provides equipment finance across sectors including agriculture, construction, transport, ICT, healthcare and green tech. In 2024, it financed €16.3 billion in assets and manages a portfolio of €40.4 billion. It operates in 18 European countries and Türkiye, with additional partnerships in North America and China.
