Czech and Slovak businesses to get €300 million financing boost under EIB accord with SG Equipment Finance

• EIB and SG Equipment Finance Czech Republic team up to provide €300 million in favourable financing for businesses mainly in Czechia and Slovakia.
• Support targets small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps, with focus on climate action and less-developed regions.
• Operation to bolster competitiveness and innovation in Central and Eastern Europe.

A range of Czech and Slovak businesses will be eligible for €300 million in favourable financing for green and other development projects as result of a new agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and SG Equipment Finance Czech Republic (SGEF).

The EIB is lending €150 million to SGEF, which will match the sum and channel the total to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps primarily in Czechia and Slovakia. The financing will help companies invest in assets such as modern equipment, technology and transport, strengthening their competitiveness and supporting jobs.

At least 20% of the financing will be for climate and environmental investments. Examples of possible eligible green projects include energy-efficient machinery, renewable-energy systems and zero-emissions transport.

"For a small business, replacing an ageing production line or buying cleaner, more efficient equipment can be the difference between remaining competitive and falling behind," said EIB Vice-President Marek Mora. "Access to investment finance is even more important at a time when many SMEs and mid-caps are facing higher costs and global uncertainty. This operation will give Czech and Slovak companies the long-term financing they need to make these investments and continue to be a driving force in the Czech and Slovak economies."

The financing conditions will include lower interest rates, longer maturities and looser collateral requirements than on the traditional loan market. A total of 88% of the financing is projected to go to Czech and Slovak areas where per-capita income is below the European Union average - so-called EU cohesion regions.

"Access to finance remains one of the key factors shaping companies' ability to invest and grow," said SGEF Chief Operating Officer Petr Němec. "Through our cooperation with the EIB, we can provide Czech and Slovak SMEs and mid-caps with additional financing capacity and attractive conditions for investments in modernisation, innovation and sustainability. For our clients, this means greater opportunities to implement projects that support their long-term competitiveness and resilience."

SGEF has been a partner since 2004 of the EIB Group, which includes the European Investment Fund (EIF). The two organisations together have helped finance investments by a variety of companies including a Czech metalworking business called 3D Lasertec, which as a result moved faster towards clean energy and even developed efficient battery-storage systems at its Domažlice-based plant.

" Through SGEF, we have financed several Trumpf laser systems and, in each of the past two years, have also refinanced five electric heavy-duty trucks. Today, our solar power plants generate 60 to 70 percent of the energy the company consumes, said 3D Lasertec Owner Josef Stauner.

The example of 3D-Lasertec shows how access to finance can help businesses turn innovative ideas into growth-enhancing investments.

By facilitating financing for SMEs and mid-caps, the new EIB-SGEF operation will bolster competitiveness, employment, sustainable growth and cohesion in Central and Eastern Europe.

Background information

EIB Group

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion in new financing and advisory services for more than 870 high-impact projects under eight core priorities supporting EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investments union.

SG Equipment Finance

SGEF is a financial institution operating in Czechia and Slovakia and providing leases and loans to nearly 5,000 clients. Headquartered in Prague, it has six branches in Czechia and two in Slovakia. SGEF finances investments including industrial equipment, technology, transport and agricultural equipment, construction machinery, healthcare and green energy. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Komerční banka, which is part of the Société Générale Group. In 2025, SGEF reported €740 million (17.9 billion Czech korunas) in new business.