Reuse of funds from the ERDF subordinated loan fund Saarland I after the end of the 2014–2020 funding period
Subordinated loans for SMEs, freelancers, start-ups, and successor companies in Saarland to strengthen equity capital and creditworthiness. Applications must be submitted in writing to SIKB continuously before the start of the measure.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Strengthening the economic equity base and improving the creditworthiness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as founders and successor companies through the provision of long-term subordinated loans to finance investments and working capital.
Eligible expenses
- Investment costs (commercial construction costs, machinery, operational and office equipment, patents, licenses, equity participations)
- Operating resources (goods, inventory, securing ongoing business operations)
Non-eligible expenses
- Acquisition of land and buildings
- Redemptions and debt restructuring
- Intra-company transactions
- Interest on debt
- Value-added tax
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Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Implementation of the project in Saarland
- Compliance with the EU criteria for SMEs
- Difficult access to external capital or insufficient equity capital
- Viable business concept and secured overall financing
- No premature implementation of the project before application submission
Description
The ERDF Subordinated Loan Fund Saarland I provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), freelancers, start-ups, and successor companies in Saarland with long-term subordinated loans to strengthen their equity base and improve creditworthiness. With a term of up to 120 months, including five grace years without repayments, financing needs for commercial construction costs, machinery, operational and business equipment, as well as patents, licenses, and company shares are covered. Working capital such as goods, inventories, or expenses to secure ongoing business operations can also be funded at 100% of the costs. Loan amounts range from €25,000 to €1,000,000, thereby particularly benefiting technology- and innovation-oriented companies in the market entry phase and facilitating access to conventional bank loans.
Prerequisites for funding include a project located in Saarland with limited access to external capital or insufficient equity, a verified SME profile according to the EU definition, and a viable business concept with secured overall financing. A premature project start before application submission excludes funding. Non-eligible expenses include the acquisition of land and buildings, buyouts, debt restructuring, related-party transactions, interest on debt, value-added tax, and contributions in kind. Applications can be submitted in writing on an ongoing basis prior to the start of the measure to Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG (SIKB), which provides advisory support as a neutral partner in selection and processing. With this funding from the European Regional Development Fund and state resources, the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of Saarland promotes sustainable growth and the competitiveness of the regional economy.
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