Public provision of sales contingent claims backed finance to SMEs: A policy alternative

In Europe (and elsewhere) governments intervene to stimulate innovation in the SME sector, and because SMEs face financial constraints in particular, governments encourage the provision of debt and equity (venture capital) finance to such firms. This paper discusses sales contingent claim (SCC) backed finance – funding secured only on a claim written on sales – that offers a different repayment profile to debt and equity. The attractiveness of such finance to firms as well as the behaviour of firms financed in this way are analysed. For various reasons SCC-backed financial instruments are generally not available to SMEs on the market, but it is argued that wider availability could further stimulate the growth and innovative activity of SMEs. The correction of this market incompleteness by the introduction of government schemes providing SCC-backed corporate finance for SMEs in higher risk (higher tech) sectors is recommended. The workability of such a scheme is explored by looking at existing examples aimed largely at project finance for larger firms.