Press Release: State aid: Commission approves French Temporary Framework risk-capital scheme

The European Commission approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a French measure allowing federal and local authorities to participate in risk-capital investment structures, in order to facilitate SMEs' access to risk capital. The measure was in line with the Commission's risk capital guidelines and Temporary Framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis. In particular, the scheme respected the thresholds for investment tranches and private participation and is limited in time until 31 December 2010.