Purpose of financing
CEFoF (Central Europe Fund of Funds), a Central European fund of funds for venture capital, was designed by the EIF in close cooperation with the governments and national agencies of Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Its goal is to increase equity investments in SMEs in the Central European region and to enable companies (with up to 500 employees) in the rapid growth phase to access venture capital through supported venture and private equity funds.
Participating venture capital funds
Key features of CEFoF
Manager: European Investment Fund (EIF)
Establishment: December 2017
Investment period: 2017-2026
CEFoF size: EUR 87 million
Investors:
- Austria: EUR 12 million
- Czech Republic: EUR 8.2 million
- Slovakia: EUR 10 million
- Hungary: EUR 10 million
- Slovenia: EUR 8 million
- EIF: EUR 38.8 million
Form of financing: equity investments, sometimes combined with mezzanine or quasi-equity capital
Amount of financing: depends on the specific venture capital fund in which CEFoF has invested (usually from a few hundred thousand to several million euros – max. up to EUR 8 million)
Target group: high-tech, innovative and globally oriented companies
Purpose of CEFoF
- Development of the existing venture capital market and increasing the number of private venture capital companies
- Accelerating equity investments in SMEs in the Central European region
- CEFoF operating mechanism
Example of good practice
Successful investment of the Invera fund in the company Marles Hiše d.o.o.
At the beginning of 2022, Invera’s first investment in the Slovenian company Marles Hiše d.o.o., the leading manufacturer of wooden prefabricated buildings in Slovenia and the wider region, was successfully completed. This is an important milestone for both the company and the domestic innovation environment, as the investment represents a clear signal that Slovenian sustainable companies have strong development potential and are attractive to private and international investors.
The investment of EUR 9.1 million enabled a strengthened impetus for development projects in the company, additional technological upgrades and expansion of production capacities. Special emphasis was placed on the development of advanced, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions in the field of sustainable construction.
With its investment in Marles Hiše d.o.o., the Invera Fund proves that it is possible to encourage the growth of companies with high added value through targeted investments, while at the same time contributing to the development of green technologies and sustainable construction in Slovenia. The investment represents an exemplary example of synergy between capital, knowledge and a clear vision of development – and an excellent reference for how financial instruments in a supportive environment can accelerate the transition of companies to a higher development phase.
The Slovene Enterprise Fund recognizes such stories as an important indicator of the success of the support ecosystem, which strengthens the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy and helps domestic companies enter global markets.