The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has invested €876 million in a new Santander securitisation that will unlock €1.43 billion in financing for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps in Spain, according to a press release. The transaction, signed in Madrid, aims to support the green transition, strengthen competitiveness, promote job creation, and help retain talent. Of the total, €108 million will go to women entrepreneurs and businesses owned or managed primarily by women, while more than €162 million will support the green transition. It is the first securitisation transaction in Spain where the collateral is embedded directly in the notes. The agreement combines efforts from the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF) alongside Banco Santander.
The partnership between the EIB Group and Banco Santander seeks to improve access to finance for Spanish small and medium businesses and mid-caps. It will help these companies meet working capital and liquidity needs. The arrangement is also designed to offset the impact of inflation, high energy prices, and high interest rates on investment. Banco Santander, founded in 1857, is headquartered in Spain and ranks among the world’s largest banks by market capitalisation. The agreement builds on a long-standing collaboration between the two institutions.
The deal was signed 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. Under the transaction, the EIB will invest approximately €476 million and the EIF €400 million, alongside other private investors. The EIF’s investment is made through a guarantee embedded in the Class A2 securities. This structure marks a first for the Spanish market. The transaction contributes to the EU savings and investments union.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises are a vital driver of growth, innovation and employment in Europe. This investment reinforces the EIF’s commitment to improving access to finance for Spanish small and medium businesses and mid-caps, particularly those pursuing sustainable projects and those led by women,” said Marco Marrone.
Joan Basora noted that the deal channels financing to companies that form “the backbone of the Spanish economy.” Catalina Mejía said the partnership broadens access to finance to advance the sustainable transition. Both institutions highlighted the mobilisation of private investment. The signatories underscored the collaboration’s contribution to Spain’s economic development.
The transaction highlights the EIB Group’s role in promoting financial instruments such as securitisation. These instruments help unlock capital for green projects and reduce risk for financial institutions. The deal aligns with several of the EIB Group’s eight strategic priorities, including climate action, environmental sustainability, and economic, social and territorial cohesion. In 2025, the EIB Group completed financing and investment operations in Spain totalling around €11 billion, alongside an additional €2.9 billion under the Regional Resilience Fund. The new agreement adds to that engagement in the Spanish market.
