EIF and Serafim Finans sign €10 million guarantee agreement under InvestEU

• The EIF and Serafim Finans AB have signed an agreement for €10 million to support Swedish SMEs and small mid-caps.
• The EIF guarantee will allow Serafim to grant financing and reduced interest rates to Swedish companies negatively affected by the economic downturn.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) will provide a €10 million guarantee covering a portfolio of subordinated debt financing through the InvestEU SME Competitiveness Product – Higher Risk Category 3 portfolio.

The InvestEU SME Competitiveness Product – Higher Risk Category 3 portfolio aims to improve companies’ competitiveness by supporting subordinated lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) negatively affected by the economic downturn, and by facilitating their recapitalisation needs — including by refinancing existing borrowings. Subordinated debt instruments play an important role in SME financing, as they can stabilise their financial position, improve borrowing capacity and support business investments.

Thanks to the EIF guarantee, Serafim will be positioned to support a broader spectrum of companies and industries that have been negatively affected by the economic downturn. In addition, interest rates on the relevant loans will be reduced. This initiative will effectively address the challenges companies have in securing financing approvals in the current economic circumstances.

“At a time when small businesses in Sweden — like their peers across Europe — are facing a multitude of challenges to sustain their activity or to grow, we want to ensure that SMEs can tap into the financing they need,” says EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt. “Our guarantee, backed by the EU, makes this finance available and affordable for businesses through our new cooperation with Serafim Finans.”

“We embrace the opportunity presented by the EIF guarantee, which empowers us to assist companies and entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of securing funding due to the economic downturn. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting Swedish companies — contributing to their sustained financial stability and growth. Hopefully, this transaction marks the first step towards a long-lasting cooperation with the EIF,” says Anna Rytterling, Head of Corporate at Serafim Finans.

About the European Investment Fund

The EIF is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s SMEs by helping them access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments that specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF furthers key EU policy objectives like competitiveness and growth, innovation and digitalisation, social impact, skills and human capital, climate action and environmental sustainability, and more.

About Serafim Finans AB

Serafim Finans is an established Swedish credit market company that has been delivering comprehensive financial resolutions to corporate clients and private individuals since 2004. Guided by a team of professionals, the company is committed to finding adaptable, long-term solutions that empower clients to reach their full potential. Serafim’s core values are anchored in the principles of engagement, competence, and a personalised approach, underscoring its aspiration to become the leading financial enterprise in Sweden. By embracing these core values, Serafim remains focused on building lasting relationships and supporting business growth.

About InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investments for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Press contacts

European Investment Fund
Anna Johansson, a.johansson@ext.eib.org, tel.: +352 4379 70884
Follow us on Twitter @eif_eu
Website: www.eif.org — Press Office: +352 4379 21000 — press@eib.org 

European Commission
Flora Matthaes, tel.: +32 229 83951 — Flora.MATTHAES@ec.europa.eu
Website: https://investeu.europa.eu #InvestEU 

Serafim Finans
Nicole Falker, nicole.falker@serafimfinans.se, tel.: +46 72 402 35 71
Website: serafimfinans.se