More help for small businesses

La Caisse des Dépots has signed a convention with small business representatives CGPME to help raise awareness of the financial help it can give to them.

It says a variety of finance possibilities is often overlooked by small businesses, notably the 210 French investment funds managed or financed by its subsidiary CDC Entreprises

The subsidiary’s president Philippe Braidy, said: “We are going to reinforce our teams so that specialists in the regions can help small business owners.” Impartial bankers will be present in the regional headquarters of the Caisse des Dépots to advise. “The challenge is to bring a development capital structure to the regions, to be practical about giving information and to go as near as possible to the businesses,” Mr Braidy said.

It is a difficult time for small business, who have “a real need for equity capital”, said Jean-François Roubaud, president of the CGPME.

The agreement comes as a study by pollsters Ifop found only 54% of small business owners felt optimistic about their prospects.

For more on how the Caisse des Dépôts could help you contact your branch.
See: www.tinyurl.com/CaisseBranches