Description

In 2011, as part of its partnership with the Participation Fund, a Belgian federal public credit institution, Belgian Bankers Academy:

1. Designed SME Credit Products

   • Starteo : co-financing for start-ups and self-employed professionals with less than four years of activity

   • Optimeo & Initio : investment financing for existing businesses

   • Business Angel + : private equity advance for projects supported by Business Angel networks

   • Pricaf + : long-term advance linked to an investment by a private “Pricaf”

   • Prêt de démarrage & coaching : financing and support over an 18-month period for young entrepreneurs

   • Prêt de Solidarité : microloan guaranteed by the King Baudouin Foundation for people excluded from conventional banking services bancaires

2. Established the CeFiP

   • Research and study centre dedicated to SME finance, active from 2005 to 2013

   • Centralisation of data on supply, demand, legislation and statistics through a web platform

   • Coordination of a network of national and international experts

   • Preparation of thematic studies covering supply, demand, development stages, microfinance and legislation

   • Organisation of seminars, workshops and conferences to disseminate findings

BBA’s Role

• Definition and configuration of credit products, including co-financing, private equity and microfinance instruments

• Preparation of procedure manuals and user guides for each product

• Design and management of the SME Finance Knowledge Centre, CeFiP

• Centralisation, processing and publication of data through the web platform

• Management of internal studies on supply, demand, SWOT analysis and legislation, and organisation of related events

• Advisory support to the Belgian Government and representation within the OECD working group on access to finance