Equity Capital – Special Program for IHK Companies
Silent partnership for commercial IHK companies in North Rhine-Westphalia up to €250,000 for future investments or business succession. Applications can be submitted at any time through the responsible IHK.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The Capital Investment Company NRW (KBG) supports small and medium-sized enterprises from trade, services, and industry in North Rhine-Westphalia in securing their future viability or financing succession arrangements. The silent partnership serves to strengthen equity capital and finance modernization, digitization, product innovations, increasing resource efficiency, as well as the purchase price for acquisitions.
Eligible expenses
- Modernization and digitization of processes
- Development of product innovations
- Increase in resource efficiency
- Implementation of legal requirements
- Purchase price in company acquisitions
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Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- SMEs with headquarters or a place of business in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Sufficient professional qualification
- Viable, future-proof concept
- Sustainable market opportunities
- Economic equity in accordance with the scaling
Documents required for application
- Project description
- Proof of economic equity
- Annual financial statements/balance sheets
- Financing plan
Evaluation criteria
- Viability of the concept
- Sustainable market opportunities
- Equity capital structure
Description
The special program “Equity Participation – IHK Companies” provides commercial SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia with a silent partnership ranging from €25,000 to €250,000 to finance modernization projects, digitalization steps, product innovations, or a smooth generational transition. The Capital Participation Company NRW (KBG) acts as a silent partner without influence on day-to-day operations and strengthens the economic equity of companies from trade, services, and industry. The term of the silent participation is up to 120 months, with repayments starting from the 6th year in five equal annual installments at nominal value. A low fixed fee of 6.55% p.a. and a profit-dependent fee of 0.50% p.a. ensure a calculable burden for the participants. Financing can be applied for individual projects through the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce – applications are accepted continuously and must be submitted before the project start.
Eligible for funding are small and medium-sized enterprises with headquarters or business premises in North Rhine-Westphalia that demonstrate sufficient professional qualification, a viable, future-oriented concept, and sustainable market opportunities. A prerequisite for participation is economic equity capital according to a scale between €25,000 and €200,000; higher amounts can be agreed upon on a case-by-case basis. Eligible expenses include modernization and digitalization measures, increases in resource efficiency, implementation of legal requirements, as well as purchase prices and additional financial needs within the framework of succession arrangements. Combination with other promotional loans (e.g., KfW, NRW.BANK) and default guarantees from Bürgschaftsbank NRW is possible. Particular emphasis is placed on the viability of the concept, sustainable market opportunities, and the company’s equity capital structure. Qualified documents such as project description, annual financial statements, and financing plan are required for the application.
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