The EIB Group, through the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, is making a significant investment in a new Santander securitisation, which will unlock €1.43 billion for financing small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps in Spain. More than €100 million will be directed to women entrepreneurs and businesses primarily owned or managed by women. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of Spanish companies and support the EU’s savings and investments union. Notably, this is the first securitisation transaction in Spain with collateral directly embedded in the notes.
The EIB Group, comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has committed €876 million to a new Santander securitisation. This will allow Santander to provide approximately €1.43 billion in lending to aid the green transition and bolster the competitiveness of small and medium businesses and mid-caps in Spain. This investment also supports job creation and talent retention. Of this, €108 million is allocated to loans for women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses, with over €162 million supporting the green transition.
The EIB Group’s agreement with Banco Santander is designed to improve access to finance for small and medium businesses and mid-caps, addressing their working capital and liquidity needs and mitigating the effects of inflation, high energy prices, and interest rates.
The agreement was signed in Madrid by Marco Marrone, chief investment officer of the EIF, Joan Basora, head of the Multinational Financial Institutions Division at the EIB, and Catalina Mejía García, chief financial officer of Banco Santander Spain.
Marco Marrone highlighted the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises as essential drivers of growth, innovation, and employment in Europe, reinforcing the EIF’s commitment to providing finance for such businesses, particularly those pursuing sustainable projects and led by women.
Joan Basora emphasized the enduring partnership between the EIB and Santander in channeling financing to small and medium businesses and mid-caps, which form the backbone of the Spanish economy. The EIB is helping to stimulate growth, create jobs, and enhance economic, social, and territorial cohesion across Spain by mobilizing private investment.
Catalina Mejía stated that the partnership with the EIB Group strengthens support for Spanish SMEs and mid-caps, expanding access to finance to foster growth, advance sustainable transition, and contribute to Spain’s economic development and competitiveness.
Under the agreement, the EIB will invest approximately €476 million and the EIF €400 million, alongside other private investors. The EIF’s investment is structured through a guarantee directly embedded in the Class A2 securities. This marks the first securitisation transaction in Spain with this structure.
The deal underscores the EIB Group’s role in promoting financial instruments like securitisation, unlocking capital for green projects, reducing financial institutions’ risks, and supporting the EU’s savings and investments union. It aligns with other EIB Group priorities, including climate action, environmental sustainability, and economic, social, and territorial cohesion.
Background:
EIB Group: The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the European Union’s financing arm, owned by the 27 Member States and one of the world’s largest multilateral development banks. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion in new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects under eight core priorities supporting EU policy objectives. These include climate action, digitalisation, security and defense, territorial cohesion, agriculture, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships, and the savings and investments union. In Spain, the EIB Group’s financing and investment operations totaled €11 billion in 2025, supplemented by €2.9 billion under the Regional Resilience Fund.
European Investment Fund (EIF): As a subsidiary of the EIB Group, the EIF specializes in providing guarantees and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses and startups across Europe. By acting as an anchor investor through its network of banks and investment funds, the EIF mobilizes private investment and supports venture capital ecosystems. With the backing of all 27 EU governments, the EIF collaborates with institutional investors to mobilize up to €80 billion for innovative companies aiming to become global leaders.
Banco Santander: Founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain, Banco Santander is one of the world’s largest banks by market capitalization. The group operates through five global business units: Retail & Commercial Banking, Openbank, Corporate & Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Insurance, and Payments. Santander strives to be a leading open platform for financial services worldwide, providing services in a simple, personalized, and fair manner. As of the first quarter of 2026, Banco Santander had €1.4 trillion in total customer deposits, over 176 million customers, 6,600 branches, and 185,000 employees.
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