FOSTER TPE-PME (Fonds Occitanie de Soutien Territorial aux Entreprises Régionales) is a new generation of Fund-of-Funds aiming to improve access to finance for final recipients, set up in cooperation with the French Region Occitanie (created following the merger of the Regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées) using its own resources and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) resources.

For further info regarding FOSTER TPE-PME, click here.

FOSTER TPE-PME is managed by EIF under the current ESIF programming period 2014-2020. It builds-on the successful implementation of the JEREMIE Initiative in Languedoc-Roussillon until end 2015, which leveraged EUR 30m of public resources (ESIF and the Region’s own resources) resulting in over EUR 170m of finance for SMEs. More than 1,400 small businesses operating in the region benefitted from JEREMIE loans or equity investments.

EIF has already launched and closed a Call for Expression of Interest for implementation of four financial instruments covering the départements of the Region Occitanie making up the ex-region Languedoc Roussillon.

EIF is currently seeking to implement financial instruments under FOSTER TPE-PME in the départements of the Region Occitanie making up the ex-region Midi-Pyrénées.

In ex-Midi-Pyrénées FOSTER TPE-PME is split into two funds-of-funds:

FOSTER ERDF: an initiative targeting SME financing needs in most sectors of the economy, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF);
FOSTER EAFRD: an initiative targeting the agricultural, agri-business and forestry sectors’ financing needs, which is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Financial instruments available for ex-Midi-Pyrénées through FOSTER TPE-PME

FOSTER TPE-PME (ERDF) makes available (i) free of charge a first loss portfolio guarantee and (ii) an equity co-investment vehicle, each supporting new debt or equity financing to SMEs.

FOSTER TPE-PME (EAFRD) makes available a free of charge first loss portfolio guarantee supporting new debt financing to agricultural holdings and SMEs For more information refer to the EIF’s Agri Guarantee Facility leaflet

**Who is eligible* to become financial intermediary under FOSTER TPE-PME?**

Depending on the type of Financial Instrument, eligible applicants are:

For the first loss portfolio guarantee instrument, Financial institutions duly authorized, according to applicable legislation, to carry out lending or leasing activities to final recipients established and/or operating in Midi-Pyrénées ,
For the equity co-investment instrument, VC Fund managers with a track-record of investments into SMEs established and/or operating in Midi-Pyrénées.

*for the complete set of eligibility and other criteria, please refer to each call document

FOSTER TPE-PME (Ex Region of MIDI-PYRÉNÉES) / DEADLINE ON 15/10/2017

How to apply to FOSTER TPE-PME MP?

For each of the financial instruments available, the documents to be downloaded below contain details of the application process, the required contents of the Expressions of Interest, and the indicative terms and conditions of the relevant financial instrument. The Deadline for Expressions of Interest is on 15/10/2017. For more information about the eligibility and exclusion criteria please refer to the relevant Call for Expression of Interest below.

FOSTER ERDF Fund-of-Funds:
1/ Call for Expression of Interest*: Financial Instrument Equity-Co-investment targeting SMEs with high potential of growth (including innovative SMEs) / closed
2/ Call for Expression of Interest*: Financial Instrument “Capped Guarantee“ aiming to ease access to finance for SMEs. / closed
3/ Call for Expression of Interest*: Financial Instrument “Capped Guarantee“ aiming to ease access to finance for Final Recipients active in the agricultural sector /closed
4/ Call for Expression of Interest*: Financial Instrument “Risk sharing loan” targeting Innovative SMEs / closed

*For each call, please also download the related Excel template for the data to be provided. You will find the link in the PDF document.

EAFRD/FOSTER support in France: testimonials

Related publications

The new EIF's AGRI Guarantee Facility