EIB And Euronext Partner To Help European Aerospace And Defence Firms Prepare For Stock Listings

The European Investment Bank (EIB), a lending institution owned by EU Member States, has teamed up with Euronext to support small and medium-sized companies in Europe’s aerospace and defense industries.

Under this partnership, the EIB will help Euronext create a program to help these companies connect with financial markets and access European capital.

The goal is to help entrepreneurs understand their financing options and how to get ready for stock-market listings (IPOs). The program, called IPOready Defence, will start between July 1 and September 30.

EIB Vice-President, Robert de Groot, says, “Our collaboration with Euronext is important in empowering European innovators. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to support companies in the defence and aerospace sectors, helping them grow and maintain their strategic independence.”

“This initiative focuses on enhancing autonomy in security and defence, steering Europe towards a stronger growth model that ensures European companies born in Europe to stay in Europe.”

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has expanded its investment criteria to include security and defense. This agreement, which involves the EIB’s advisory services, is part of the bank’s effort to offer more support for security and defense in the European Union.

The EIB’s support for the Euronext program also helps strengthen the EU Capital Markets Union by addressing challenges that affect European businesses. This initiative is part of the EIB Action Plan, which aims to help businesses grow, enter stock markets, and attract funds for their activities.

Euronext CEO, Stéphane Boujnah, says, “This partnership will enhance our IPO ready programme. The programme aims to give innovative and high-growth small and mid-sized companies that contribute to the European continent’s strategic autonomy increased visibility and access to capital markets.”

The European Investment Bank (EIB), owned by EU Member States, is the long-term lending institution of the European Union. It provides funding for projects in eight key areas that align with EU goals, such as climate action, digitalization, security, and defense.

In 2024, the EIB Group, which includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), approved nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 projects. The EIB Group has increased its focus on security and defense by expanding the types of projects eligible for funding and streamlining the process. Investments in this area reached €1 billion in 2024, with plans to double that amount in 2025.

In March 2024, the EIB Board approved new measures to support European peace by financing large-scale projects in areas like land border protection, military mobility, critical infrastructure, and cybersecurity. These projects aim to improve military transport, radar systems, drones, and the protection of important raw materials.

In 2024, the EIB Group also supported over €100 billion in investments for Europe's energy security and provided €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups, and innovators in Europe. About half of the EIB’s financing in the EU is focused on regions with lower income levels.

The EIB also offers advisory services to help public and private partners develop and implement projects that are ready for investment. In 2024, EIB advisory teams helped raise over €200 billion in investments across Europe and other regions.

About European Investment Bank (EIB)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the EU's main financing institution, owned by the countries that are part of the European Union. It offers long-term funding and expert advice to support projects that help achieve the EU's goals, especially those focused on sustainability.