Loan Dispenser

The Participation Fund as a Loan Dispenser

The loan activity division is articulated around three Business Lines, each aiming at a given target audience. Each Business Line offers its own appropriate products and distribution channels.

In the margin of these three Businesses Lines, the Fund has created Casheo, a specific short-term loan arrangement intended to mobilise the loans held by the SE (Small Enterprises) on the public or semi-public institutions and by public law companies and/or those significantly controlled by public capital.

Co-Financing Business Line

Through the “Co-Financing” Business Line, the Participation Fund covers the partial financing of investments of any nature made by small companies (SC). The Participation Fund’s loans are additional to those granted by the financial and banking partners. The Participation Fund’s partners in this Business Line are financial credit institutions, banks or venture capital specialists, all involved in the investment loan field. The granting of subordinated loans by the Participation Fund decreases the risk for the financial or banking partner and thus facilitates the company's access to bank credit.

Products:

Starteo, intended for self-employed entrepreneurs, professional people and small companies in launch phase or that have not exercised their activities for more than four years.
Optimeo, intended for existing companies that would like to make new investment plans and grow.
Initio, intended for small businesses, private individuals and legal entities alike. It is intended for self-employed and professional people who exercise their activities as their main business.

Private Investment Facility Business Line

The "Private Investment Facility" Business Line covers the granting of investment loans in addition to the venture capital financed by private investors. This type of loan targets innovative companies that do not have access to traditional bank credit because of the innovative or technological aspects of their projects but which however benefit from the financial and operational support of one or more Business Angels. The Participation Fund’s partners in this Business line are the Business Angels Networks.

Product:

Set up in collaboration with the Business Angels Networks, the Business Angel+ is intended for companies that are starting or developing with the help of one or more Business Angels.

Microfinance Business Line

The "Microfinance" Business Line covers the loans granted to jobseekers and to people without easy access to traditional bank credit for starting their own economic activity. The Participation Fund’s partners in this Business Line are mentoring structures, recognised and approved by the Fund, which provide the recipients of these loans with professional coaching.

Products:

The Starter Loan provides jobseekers with the financial means for starting their own businesses. Professional coaching is guaranteed for the preparation of the credit application, as well as during the first 18 months of the activities’ launch phase.

Moreover, in the context of the Young Self-Employed Plan for the under-thirties, the mentoring structures for starters, financially sustained by the Participation Fund, offer free coaching to the recipients for a period of three to six months, in order to support them in the launching of the project.

The Solidarity Loan was created by the King Baudouin Foundation. This mini-loan can be granted to a person who, considering his or her personal financial position, cannot have access to the bank credit or traditional investment.