Lombardy Region: “Corporate Heritage” call for the strengthening of the assets of SMEs


To cope with the undercapitalization of the SMEs, on 30 June the Lombardy Region intervened with a measure in support of capital strengthening called: " Company assets - Measure to favor the capital strengthening of Lombard SMEs and economic recovery".


Given the importance of the measure, with decree no. 15018 of 08/11/2021, the Lombardy Region has ordered the extension of the deadline for the presentation of the grant applications until the financial endowment is exhausted.


The intervention is divided into two lines:


Line 1 in which they can participate:

  • SMEs established in the form of  sole proprietorships  or  partnerships  that have been active for at least 12 months
  • freelancers  who have started their professional activity for at least 12 months who decide to  become a joint-stock company  and who, before submitting the application form, have approved  a capital increase of at least 25,000 euros .

Line 2 SMEs Already established in the form of joint stock companies that have approved a capital increase of at least € 75,000 and that support an investment for development and relaunch at least equal to double the contribution in one of the following areas can participate:

  • investment attraction
  • reshoring and back shoring
  • corporate reconversion and development, also aimed at enhancing human capital
  • digital transition
  • green transition.

SMEs applying on Line 2 can also apply for a medium / long-term loan from Finlombarda SpA


CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BENEFIT

The financial intervention is modulated according to the two lines of intervention:


Line 1: non-repayable grant equal to 30% of the capital increase subscribed and paid up and with a maximum contribution value of € 25,000.00 per company.  The regional contribution must be entered in a non-distributable equity reserve to be used for future increases in share capital.


Line 2: non-repayable grant equal to 30% of the capital increase subscribed and paid up and with a maximum contribution value of € 100,000.00 per company. The regional contribution must be entered in a non-distributable equity reserve to be used for future share capital increases and is granted against an  investment equal to at least double the contribution . SMEs applying on Line 2  can also apply for a medium / long-term loan from Finlombarda SpA , aimed at supporting the investment program and  supported by a free regional guarantee of  up to 80% for each individual loan.


The loan requested from Finlombarda SpA will have a maximum duration of 72 months (of which up to 24 months of pre-amortization, including technical pre-amortization) and the maximum amount is equal to 4 times the value of the capital increase paid and in any case within the limit of 80% of the value of the eligible investment; in any case, the loan will be between a minimum of € 36,000.00 and a maximum of € 1,000,000.00 .


Eligible expenses:


The expenses for the purchase of:


a) machinery, production plants, equipment, new factory furnishings necessary for the achievement of production purposes (including vehicles provided they are not intended for road freight transport);


b) software & hardware;


c) trademarks, patents and production licenses;


d) masonry works, reclamation works, plant engineering and similar costs, also aimed at introducing seismic engineering criteria within the limit of 20% of the previous letters a), b) and c) if directly related and functional to the installation of the object assets investment;


e) strategic and technical consultancy within the limit of 10% of the previous items.


Businesses can submit the application for subsidy  until resources are exhausted.

The allocation of the Facilitation will be at the evaluation desk,  according to the chronological order of presentation of the applications .