Release date: 9 July 2025
Promoter – Financial Intermediary
BPCE SALocation
Description
The operation consists of a Multi Beneficiary Intermediated Loan (MBIL) to BPCE, supporting 100% EIB eligible security and defence projects in France and in the EU.
Additionality and Impact
The operations aims to ease financial constraints for SMEs and Mid-Caps operating in the European security and defence sector. It addresses persistent market failures arising from limited access to finance and/or higher cost of funding faced by these companies due to sector-specific sensitivities, dual-use activities, and a lack of tailored financial instruments. These challenges are compounded by information asymmetries, perceived reputational risks, and limited collateral availability.
Through this operation, the EIB will deploy its intermediated products via BPCE and its subsidiaries, including Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne, to facilitate access to medium and long-term financing for eligible defence-related projects. EIB's involvement is expected to enhance the availability and affordability of credit, particularly for smaller players along the defence value chain, thereby strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy, industrial resilience, and technological innovation capacity . Moreover, the operation has a high contribution (90%) to the cohesion objectives.
Objectives
The aim is to enhance access to finance for the target beneficiaries to support their small/medium projects.
Sector(s)
- Credit lines - Credit lines
Proposed EIB finance (Approximate amount)
EUR 300 million
Total cost (Approximate amount)
not applicable
Environmental aspects
Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.
Procurement
Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.
Status
Signed - 17/06/2025