Profile: BPIfrance
France’s main agency supporting private entrepreneurs and venture capitalists ended the year on a high note both at home in Europe and more widely. At its 20th anniversary celebration in November, BPI-france’s Capital Invest conference celebrated the international as well as innovation and fundraising activities. It called for bigger fund managers and a more international shareholding structure.
A month later and BPIfrance, the public investment bank of France, and the European Union member state-backed European Investment Fund (EIF) signed a memorandum of understanding to co-invest up to €600m ($720m).
The investments will focus on French small and medium-sized businesses along with mid-caps with the total of all investments being between €500m and €600m over four years. In addition, there is training aspect in the memorandum to aid local managers.
France has long supported closer venture integration.
BPIFrance increased its stake in the EIF…
