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Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure BE-2020-41/1697 – measures in Belgium

Winwin-loan

Winwinlening

Country Belgium , applies regionally

    • – BE2 VLAAMS GEWEST
Time period Open ended, started on 06 October 2020
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Access to finance
Author Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound
Measure added 11 January 2021 (updated 13 January 2021)

Background information

The Winwin loan is a system that encourages Flemish private individuals to grant a subordinated loan to small and medium-sized enterprises.

A private individual can lend up to €75,000 to a Flemish SME for a period of 5 to 10 years. In return, the lender receives an annual tax credit of 2.5% on the outstanding capital of the Winwin Loan. If the borrower is unable to repay, the lender may also recover 40% of the amount due via a one-off tax credit. An SME can take out Win-win loans of up to €300,000, up to a maximum of €75,000 per lender.

Content of measure

The Winwin loan system was already in place before the current crisis. At the start of the second wave the system was extended and made more flexible:

  1. The duration of 8 years can now vary from 5 to 10 years.
  2. The maximum of €50,000 per creditor has been raised to €75,000.
  3. The maximum of €200,000 per enterprise has been raised to €300,000.
  4. Small shareholders (with a maximum of 5% of the shares) will also be allowed to grant a win-win loan.
  5. The tax benefit of 2.5% will be extended to the total term of a maximum of 10 years. The extension only applies to new contracts concluded after 6 October (the date of publication of the decree).

Use of measure

No data is available of uptake of the measure.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Applies to all businesses Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
Local / regional government
Regional funds
Other

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No clear indication of the involvement of the social partners.

Views and reactions

Employers association Unizo has applauded the usage and extension of the Winwin loan. They state that it is an intelligent measure that leads to a win for everyone involved.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2021), Winwin-loan, measure BE-2020-41/1697 (measures in Belgium), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BE-2020-41_1697.html

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