INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND SME ACCESS TO FINANCE PROF. DR. SOPHIE MANIGART VLERICK BUSINESS SCHOOL AND GHENT UNIVERSITY
FUNDING GROWTH IS CRUCIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF COMPANIES 2 Development Stage Source: EY; Frontier Economics; EVCA
© Vlerick Business School
MOST ACTIVE CROWDFUNDING CATEGORIES
© Vlerick Business School FUNDS PAID OUT PER EQUITY BASED PROJECT
FUNDING GROWTH IS CRUCIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF COMPANIES 2 Development Stage Source: EY; Frontier Economics; EVCA
© Vlerick Business School
THE VENTURE FUNDING LANDSCAPE IN THE US COUNTS MANY DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN ALL STAGES
© Vlerick Business School US COMPANIES RAISE MORE VC FUNDING US EU First round$ 7 mio€ 3,2 mio Cumulative VC amount$21 mio€10,4 mio
© Vlerick Business School THIS LEADS TO HIGHER GROWTH IN US COMPANIES
© Vlerick Business School VC IN EUROPE IS THREATENED Banks: Basel III regulation Insurance companies: Solvency II regulation National/regional public policy focuses on small funds, but big money is needed Public policy invested 30%-40% of new money in european VC funds between
© Vlerick Business School BELGIUM SCORES LOW ON BROAD INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS Source: Groh, Liechtenstein, Lieser, (Stock market, M&A) Quality of education
© Vlerick Business School A STRONG INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK LEADS TO MORE SME FINANCING SUPPLY OF FUNDING Legality index Effectiveness of legal system, absence of corruption, risk of contract repudiation,… Self-dealing protection Legal protection of minority shareholders Creditor rights protection DEMAND FOR FUNDING One-share-one-vote Bankruptcy regulation and execution Discharge available? Bankruptcy process costs? Duration?
© Vlerick Business School LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND SME FINANCING IN EUROPE MORE EQUITY RAISED IF… Stronger legality index (+22%) Better protection against self-dealing (+79%) MORE DEBT RAISED IF… Stronger legality index (+13%) Stronger creditor rights (+12%) Discharge after bankruptcy (+79%) Quicker bankruptcy closing, lower closing costs
© Vlerick Business School POSITION OF BELGIUM COMPARED TO UK
© Vlerick Business School CONCLUSION Improving the legal (and, more broadly, the institutional) environment for Minority shareholders Creditors Entrepreneurs would strongly enhance the availability of funding for SMEs …at low cost for public policy!
© Vlerick Business School FUNDING