Possibilities to ensure access to finance 
     for SMEs
   1. Market-conform access to finance measures = no State aid
       A. Equity – pari passu
       B. Loans – Reference Rate Communication
       C. Guarantees – Guarantee Notice
   2. De minimis
       1. Risk capital (equity injection 200 000 EUR)
       2. Subsidised loans amounting to max 1 mio EUR
       3. Subsidised guarantees for loan of 1.5 mio EUR
   3. General Block Exemption Regulation = compatible aid & no notification
       1. General SME access to finance:
            1. Risk finance aid (equity, loans, guarantees, fiscal advantages)
            2. Start-up aid
            3. Aid for alternative trading platforms
            4. Aid for scouting costs
      22. Access to finance for specific objectives: e.g. Urban development aid; Energy efficiency
   4. Risk Finance Guidelines = compatible aid & to be notified
  Definition of SME
  •  For De minimis: only de jure control of linked 
     companies 
  •  For GBER and guidelines: de jure + de facto control of 
     two companies through natural persons 
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      From risk capital to risk finance State aid
                       Until 1 July 2014:                                                    From 1 July 2014: 
                               risk capital                                                  New section on SME access 
                                                                                             to finance
                                                                                             • New GBER: 
               •       GBER – Article 29
                                                                                                 •  Article 21 – risk finance aid
                                                                                                 •  Article 22 – start-up aid
                                                                                                 •  Article 23 – aid for alternative trading 
                                                                                                    platforms
                                                                                                 •  Article 24 – aid for scouting costs
               •       Risk Capital Guidelines                                               •
                                                                                                 Risk Finance Guidelines
                      •       Standard assessment
                                                                                                 •  Only substantive assessment
                      •       Substantive assessment
               •       Expiry: 31 December 2013 + 
                       6 months extension                                                    • Entry into force: 1 July 2014
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 GBER - Access to finance for SMEs
   Forms of intervention
    1. Risk finance aid – Article 21  
       • MS delivering SME access to finance measures via financial intermediaries
       • Incentives to private investors (upside-downside incentives)
       • Provision of preferential loans, guarantees to SMEs
       • tax incentives to private investors investing directly or indirectly in SMEs
    2. Aid for start-ups – Article 22
    3. Aid to alternative trading platforms – Article 23
       • Fiscal incentives to investors investing via an alternative platform trading in SME 
         shares
       • Start-up aid to the platform operator
    4. Aid for scouting costs – Article 24
       • Covering 50% of the costs of initial screening and formal due diligence incurred by 
    5    managers/investors
        GBER Article 22 – Start-up aid
     • Eligible companies: 
       • Small companies, or Small & innovative companies, and
       • 5 years from registration,
       • Not yet distributed profits, and
       • Not formed through a merger
     • Form of aid: grant, equity, quasi-equity, loan, guarantee, or mix
     • Grant, equity, quasi-equity:
       • Non-assisted area: € 400 000 GGE
       • Assisted (c) area: € 600 000 GGE
       • Assisted (a) area: € 800 000 GGE
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