Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses Dutch state guarantees scheme worth up to EUR 900 million for equity financing and loans to SMEs

The European Commission has authorised The Netherlands, under EC Treaty state aid rules, to provide guarantee coverage for equity financing or subordinated loans to SMEs. The guarantee scheme, called ‘Growth Facility’ (Groeifaciliteit), is designed to help SMEs expand, and to promote the transfer of company ownership from the post-war-generation, to a new generation of owners. The notified measure is intended to counter economic stagnation. The Commission found that the guarantee measure does not constitute state Aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.