European Investment Fund
The
European Investment Fund, established in
1994, is a
European Union agency for the provision of finance to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). It does not lend money to SMEs directly; rather it provides finance through private banks. Its main operations are in the areas of
venture capital and guaranteeing loans. Its shareholders are: the
European Investment Bank (approx. 60%); the
European Communities, represented by the
European Commission (approx. 30%); and several privately-owned EU financial institutions (approx. 10%).