Courses
Winter Academy
Financial Instruments in ESI Funds:
Making it easy
openregistration
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Description
How to achieve best results with Financial Instruments? How to ensure that Financial Instruments are implemented correctly and bring sustainable effects? How to prepare the ex-ante assessment and a smart investment strategy? How to safeguard compliance with the State Aid rules?
Participation in this workshop will provide you with current knowledge and handy tools to deal effectively with FI during the new Multiannual Financial Framework. Our expert practitioners will discuss vital FI topics, including the legal framework, the cooperation between Funds Manager and Financial Intermediaries, the selection process of the Intermediaries as well as the set-up of individual instruments, to make your job easier, more effective and to bring you confidence. We will also discuss the particular importance of FI in the post- COVID period in bringing relief and development to our economies.The workshop will cover the following issues:
- Lessons Learned in Programming Period 2014-2020;
- Cooperation between Fund of Funds Manager and Financial Intermediaries;
- Structuring and Implementation of Loan Instruments;
- Selection of Financial Intermediaries;
- Structuring and Implementation of Guarantee Instruments;
- Ensuring Compliance with State Aid Rules;
- Combination of Grants with FI’s;
- Equity Fund Practice;
- Problem-solving
We believe learning happens best when practical knowledge and experience are involved. Therefore, we will take a deep look into a set of international case- studies and engage in problem-solving sessions.
WHO IS THE WORKSHOP FOR?
- Representatives from public authorities in charge of financial management, control, and audit, especially from Fund or Funds Manager
- Managing Authorities
- Certifying Authorities
- Audit Authorities
- Financial Intermediaries
- ESI Funds experts from regional and local authorities
- Beneficiaries of EU Financial Instruments i.e.: Private and public companies, associations, research institutes
- Public and private banks
- International, national and local associations and networks
- Consultants
After the completion of the first day of the Winter Academy we are inviting the participants to a walking tour to discover the spirit of Vienna in X-mass time and the life of its citizens, ending in a restaurant with a get-together dinner.
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Programme
Wednesday 6 December 2023
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09.00
Welcome note by ESI Funds Academy
Introduction of participants; tour de table
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09.15
Introduction to the Topic, lessons learned in Programming Period 2014-2020 and presentation of the Programming Period 2021-2027
- short questionnaire;
- overview of Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2027;
- the legal structure that enables financial instruments – new cohesion package;
- financial instruments in Cohesion Policy;
- facts and figures for 2014-2020: lessons learned;
- opportunities offered by the 2021-2027 framework;
- what is happening before the FI – programming period? Case study – Croatia;
- rationale behind the use of financial instruments and key preconditions for the implementation?;
- the Lifecycle of FI`s – from design to closure
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10.45
Coffee Break
Networking
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11.15
Typical design elements for financial instruments
- types of financial instruments – which one to choose;
- ex-ante assessment;
- selection of the implementation option;
- selection of the body implementing FI (holding fund and/or specific fund);
- funding Agreement – structure according to regulation;
- investment strategy, Business Plan with practical examples and content;
- example of Financial plan – defining parameters with participants;
- management Costs and Fees
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12.15
Lunch
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13.30
Selection of Financial Intermediaries
- discussion on the role of financial intermediaries;
- relevant legislation;
types of potential financial intermediaries / financial institutions; - market research as an introduction to the public procurement process – joint preparation of an example;
- public procurement and the design of competitive calls – Necessary steps and main documentation;
- case study: selection of financial intermediaries for the implementation of a financial instrument in the form of a risk sharing loan!
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14.30
Coffee Break
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15.00
Structuring and Implementation of Financial instrument in combination with Grant in a single operation
- discussion and joint review of the participants’ experience;
- general rules and overview of possibilities;
- what is eligible for financial instruments?
- state aid rules – a starting point;
key elements of the product to be defined
ways to ensure leverage; - controlling and reporting;
- visibility and transparency;
- Case study – Structuring a risk sharing loan financial instruments with capital rebate in practice;
- Case study – Structuring a guarantee financial instrument with subsidized interest rate
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16.30
End of the official programme of day one
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18.00
Get together dinner
After the completion of the first day of the Winter Academy we are inviting the participants to a walking tour to discover the spirit of Vienna with a get together dinner
Starting point: Hotel Lobby
Thursday 7 December 2023
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09.00
Structuring and Implementation of Guarantee Instruments
- Guarantee Instruments
- General rules
- Key parameters of guarantee to be decided
- Case study from Poland:Loan Portfolio Guarantee for Innovative SMEs – guarantee supported by interest rate subsidy
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10.30
Coffee Break
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11.00
Ensuring Compliance with State Aid Rules I
- The concept of State aid and its application to ESI Funds and financial instruments
- State aid regulations applicable for financial instruments
- General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) 2014-2020
- What are the conditions for an exemption?
- Specific requirements applying to FIs
- Rules on Risk Finance
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12.30
Lunch break
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13.30
Ensuring Compliance with State Aid Rules II: Case Studies
- How to use de minimis aid and off the shelf financial instruments
- How to ensure that all aid is passed on to final beneficiaries
+Case Study
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15.00
Problem Solving Session
Send us your questions and cases in advance and discuss them
with our experts
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16.00
End of day two
Friday 8 December 2023
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09.00
Combination of Grants with FIs
- Set-up of the combined support scheme – loan and grant (basic rules defined on EU and national level)
- Embedment in the national support system (co-existence with grants and independent financial instruments)
- Application under different thematic objectives, experiences
- 2014-20 and the preparation for the model after 2020
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10.30
Coffee break
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11.00
Equity Fund Practice
- Equity Instruments
- General rules
- Key parameters to be decided
- How does an equity fund work in terms of rules?
(i.e. management fee, hurdle rate, carried)
- The economics of a fund, including costs related to compliance
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12.15
Lunch
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13.15
Summary of Main Points, Lessons to be Drawn and Advice, and Final Comments by Participants
Chair
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13.45
End of the Winter Academy & Distribution of Certificates
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Experts
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Venue
Mercure Porto Centro Santa Catarina
Praça da Batalha, 116
4049-028 PortoNext to the training materials the trainign fee is covering:
a) the Catering during the training (3 Coffee Breaks and a Lunch every day);
b) the Walking Tour in Porto in the evening of the First Day of the Training;
c) Networking Dinner in the evening of the First Day of the Training.
