Introduction

This report presents the main results of the 23rd round of the Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE) in the euro area, which was conducted between 7 September and 16 October 2020. The survey covered the period from April to September 2020. The total euro area sample size was 11,019 enterprises, of which 10,042 (91%) had fewer than 250 employees.^[1]

The report provides evidence on changes in the financial situation of enterprises and documents trends in the need for and availability of external financing. It includes results on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as large firms, and examines developments both at the euro area level and in individual countries.

1 Overview of the results

In the middle of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, euro area SMEs reported that difficulty in finding customers was the dominant concern for their business activity, while access to finance was considered to be among the least important obstacles. As in previous editions, the 23rd round of the Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE) in the euro area asked entrepreneurs to indicate the most pressing problem facing their company. Difficulty in finding customers was considered the key concern for euro area SMEs (22%), followed by a lack of availability of skilled labour (19%). Concerns about access to finance rose in most countries. However, while lack of access to finance continued to have a strong impact on SMEs in Greece (22%) and Italy (14%), it remained among the least important obstacles in the euro area as a whole (10%). Other factors that relatively few SMEs saw as a major concern were competition (9%), costs of production and the regulatory burden (both 11%).

The turnover and profits of euro area SMEs deteriorated, reflecting the sharp fall in economic activity. In particular, euro area SMEs reported a strong decline in turnover, indicated by the lowest net percentage value^[2] recorded since the inception of the survey in 2009 (-46%, from -2%). At the same time, SMEs signalled declining profits (-47%, from -15%) in most countries and sectors. The decline in economic activity and profits also took a heavy toll on firms’ investment and hiring decisions: in net terms, SMEs reported reductions in fixed investments (-10%, from 12%), in inventories and working capital (-15%, from 1%) and in number of employees (-10%, from 5%).

Euro area enterprises reported fewer concerns about labour and other costs. For the first time since 2009, the net percentage of SMEs indicating an increase in labour costs dropped to 3% from 46%, and in some countries SMEs even signalled contractions, while the net percentage of firms reporting an increase in other costs declined to 11% (down from 45%). A small net percentage of SMEs reported an increase in interest expenses (5%, from 1%) and growing debt-to-assets ratios (8%, from -4%).

In this survey round, euro area SMEs reported an increase in the demand for bank loans to bridge their liquidity gaps. In net terms, euro area SMEs reported an increased need for bank loans (20%, from 8%) (see Table 1, column 2). Around 12% of SMEs, on balance, reported a rise in the need for trade credit (from 11%), with 6% indicating a higher demand for leasing or hire-purchase (from 10%). Financing was primarily used for inventories and working capital and less for fixed investment. Moreover, a higher percentage of SMEs used funding for refinancing or paying off obligations (17%, from 13%).

The availability of bank loans increased, while that of trade credit declined compared with the previous survey round. The net percentage of SMEs reporting an improvement in the availability of bank loans increased slightly to 6% (from 5%) (see Table 1, column 6). The countries in which SMEs reported the strongest improvement in the availability of bank loans were Spain, Italy and France. Euro area SMEs also indicated, on balance, an improvement in the availability of credit lines (3%, from 4%), mostly in Spain and Italy. By contrast, euro area SMEs reported a decline in the supply of trade credit (-1%, from 3%) – a signal of the continued disruption to supply chains – and increased availability of leasing or hire-purchase was reported by only 3% of SMEs, down from 12% in the previous survey round.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the external financing gap of SMEs – the difference between the change in demand for and the change in availability of external financing – has turned positive. In this survey round, the financing gap remained positive at the euro area level (5%, from 2%) and across all euro area countries (see Table 1, column 10).

The balance sheets of euro area enterprises deteriorated in this survey round for the first time since the global financial crisis. The net percentage of SMEs indicating a rise in their debt-to-assets ratio rose to 8% (from -4%), ending the protracted deleveraging trend observed since 2010.

The macroeconomic environment had a strong adverse effect on the availability of external financing for SMEs. Changes in the macroeconomic outlook were perceived to have negatively affected access to finance (-41%, from -30%) (Chart 19). The deterioration was widespread across all euro area countries. At the same time, SMEs continued to indicate an improvement in the willingness of banks to provide credit (7%), while reporting deteriorations in their firm-specific outlook (-30%) and capital position (-7%).

For the first time since 2009, euro area SMEs reported an improvement in access to public financial support (14%, from -3%), an indication that the initiatives by a number of governments to provide public guarantees for bank loans during the COVID-19 pandemic have fed through to these enterprises.

The overall financing obstacles indicator^[3] regarding SMEs’ access to bank loans remained unchanged at 8% (see Table 1, column 12). While the percentage of SMEs reporting difficulty in accessing bank loans diminished in most countries, financing obstacles remained significant in the Netherlands (10%) and Greece (27%). In this survey round, 38% of SMEs had applied for a loan (up from 21%). The rate for fully successful loan applications reached 71% (from 67%), while the rejection rate remained unchanged at 5%.

Questioned about price terms and conditions of bank financing, SMEs reported, on balance, that bank interest rates had declined (-4%, from -10%). At the same time, a net 20% of SMEs (from 31%) continued to signal higher levels of other costs of financing, such as charges, fees and commissions. As for non-price terms and conditions, SMEs signalled increases in available loan size and maturity (both 14%) but also reported declines in collateral requirements (9%).

Looking ahead, SMEs are expecting the availability of most external financing sources to deteriorate, in particular bank loans (a net -16%, from -11%) and credit lines ( -14%, from -11%).

In this survey round, large and medium-sized companies shared most of the concerns raised by SMEs about the development of their financial position in terms of turnover and profits but reported a better credit history and capital position. Around 48% of large firms applied for a bank loan, with a similar success rate (73%) to that of SMEs (71%). However, large firms experienced a lower rejection rate (2%) than SMEs (5%). According to the survey results, the median interest rate charged to large enterprises on credit lines was around 63 basis points lower than that paid by SMEs, although the spread narrowed compared with the previous round.

Nevertheless, large and medium-sized enterprises conveyed a more negative view of the business environment influencing their access to external funds than SMEs. A net 48% of large enterprises and 41% of medium-sized enterprises reported that the general economic outlook might have become an impediment to their access to external finance.

Overall, the survey results show a marked deterioration in the economic environment despite accommodative financing conditions and increased public support. Looking ahead, euro area SMEs meanwhile expect a decline in the availability of external and internal sources of finance.

2 The financial situation of SMEs in the euro area

2.1 The financial situation of SMEs deteriorates further

In the period from April to September 2020, euro area SMEs reported a deterioration in the economic environment, despite generally accommodative financing conditions (see Chart 1). In this survey round, euro area SMEs signalled a decline in turnover in net terms^[4] (-46%, from -2% in the previous survey round). The net percentage of SMEs reporting lower turnover in the current survey round is not only unprecedented (the lowest figure from previous survey rounds was -12% in 2012 at the peak of the euro area debt crisis) but also represents a second consecutive round of turnover declines, a situation that has not been seen since the beginning of 2014 and which highlights the extraordinary challenges SMEs have faced in 2020.

The declines in turnover affected enterprises of different sizes. Larger firms reported slightly smaller net percentage balances (-39%, from 21%, for large companies and -42%, from 12%, for medium-sized companies) than smaller enterprises (-47%, from 4%, for small firms and -48%, from -13%, for micro firms). However, the drop in net percentages was more pronounced in the case of the larger firms.

Consequently, a greater percentage of euro area SMEs reported a deterioration in profits, with the net percentage value the lowest ever recorded in the survey (-47%, from -15%). The deterioration in profits was widespread across all firm sizes, with net percentage balances of -48% (from -23%) for micro firms, -49% (from -11%) for small firms, -42% (from -6%) for medium-sized companies and -40% (from -3%) for large firms.

At the same time, euro area enterprises reported that they were less concerned than previously about labour and other costs. For the first time since 2009, a much lower net proportion of euro area SMEs continued to report rising labour costs (3% overall, down from 46% previously), with significant reductions across firms of all sizes: the figures were 2% (down from 38%) for micro, 4% (from 50%) for small and 3% (from 53%) for medium. Large firms meanwhile reported declines in labour costs (-1% in net terms, from 54%) for the first time since the survey started in 2009. The situation reported for other costs was similar overall: in net terms, 11% of SMEs (from 45%) reported increases, with micro enterprises at 16% (from 44%), small firms at 9% (from 46%), medium-sized firms at 2% (from 45%) and large firms at -2% (from 40%).

A small net percentage of euro area SMEs reported an increase in interest expenses (5%) in this survey round, up from 1% in the previous round. Moreover, in net terms, firms in all size categories reported an increase in interest rate costs.

In this survey round, the balance sheets of euro area enterprises deteriorated for the first time since the global financial crisis. The net percentage of SMEs indicating a rise in their debt-to-assets ratio rose to 8% (from -4%) as a result of the adverse economic environment since early 2020, ending the protracted deleveraging trend observed since 2010. A similar net weakening in the financial position of firms was reported across size categories.

The sharp decline in economic activity and profits also took a heavy toll on firms’ investment and hiring decisions. On balance, euro area SMEs reported a decline in fixed investments (-10%, down from 12%), inventories and working capital (-15%, from 1%) and number of employees (-10%, from 5%) – in all cases, for the first time in recent years. These negative dynamics applied to firms in all size categories.

Turning to developments across countries, the sharp deterioration in SMEs’ economic activity over the last six months was widespread. In the largest euro area countries (see Chart 2), the net percentage of SMEs indicating a decrease in turnover rose strongly in Italy (-56%, from -19%), Spain (-55%, from -5%) and France (-54%, from 1%), and slightly less so in Germany (-37%, from 3%). SMEs from all euro area countries reported a record decline in turnover, in net terms, with those from Ireland (-62%, from 13%) and Greece (-59%, from -6%) among the most affected, and those from Finland (-22%, from 2%) and the Netherlands (-32%, from 13%) least affected (see Chart 29 in Annex 1).

SMEs’ profits were also hit by the decline in economic activity in all euro area countries. In most countries, the decrease in profits over the last six months came on top of already declining profits in the previous survey round, when the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis erupted. In net terms, the contraction in profits was rather more severe in Italy (-56%, from -36%), Spain (-56%, from -20%) and France (-51%, from -13%), than it was in Germany (-40%, from -7%). Among the other countries, the percentage of SMEs reporting declining profits was highest in Greece (-66%, from -28%) and Ireland (-55%, from -5%). At the sectoral level, SMEs in the industrial and services sectors appear to have been the most affected by the deterioration in profits (-51%, from -20% and -53%, from -12%, respectively).

Reported increases in labour and other (i.e. materials and energy) costs eased in net terms across countries. Among the largest countries, SMEs in Spain (-4%, from 50%) and France (-1%, from 40%) actually reported net declines in labour costs, while those in Germany (6%, from 46%) and Italy (2%, from 38%) reported increases. By contrast, other costs reportedly continued to rise in all countries (11%, from 45%, for the euro area as a whole).

On balance, euro area SMEs indicated an increase in interest expenses in this survey round, although country-specific trends differed. Among the large economies, the highest net percentages were recorded among SMEs in Spain (21%, from 9%), while much lower net percentages were reported for those in France (4%, from 1%) and Germany (2%, from -9%). By contrast, a lower net percentage of Italian SMEs reported rising interest rate expenses in this survey round (6%, from 14%).

The crisis triggered a rise in SMEs’ debt-to-assets ratios in most countries, breaking the deleveraging trend experienced in recent years. Among the large countries, the debt-to-assets ratio rose, on balance, for SMEs in Spain (24%, from -4%), Italy (18%, from 7%) and France (12%, from -8%). Meanwhile, it remained unchanged for German SMEs (0%, from -6%) (see Chart 30 in Annex 1 for other countries).

On balance, SMEs in all countries reported a contraction in expenses for fixed investment, inventories and working capital, and employment. The net proportion of SMEs reporting declines in fixed investment ranges between 10% and 20% for most countries, with the lowest adjustments observed in the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia. The contraction in inventories and working capital expenses, in net terms, tended to be somewhat stronger than for fixed investment, particularly among Greek (-29%, from -12%) and Portuguese SMEs (-27%, from -6%). Declines in number of employees were also reported, in net terms, in all countries, but the lowest net percentages were reported in Ireland (-23%, from 15%), Slovakia (-15%, from 1%), Spain (-14%, from 5%) and Belgium (-14%, from 8%).

Against this background, the financial vulnerability of euro area SMEs increased. An encompassing indicator of the financial situation of firms^[5] (the “financial vulnerability indicator”) suggests that 9.9% (from 4.7%) of euro area SMEs encountered major difficulties in running their business and servicing their debt and might therefore face more difficulties than other firms in accessing finance in the future. At the other end of the spectrum, the percentage of profitable firms (i.e. those that were more likely to be resilient to financial shocks) declined to 2.2% (from 4.3%). The financial vulnerability indicator nevertheless remains lower than at its peak in 2012, when it reached 14.2%. For large firms, however, the financial vulnerability indicator is higher now than at any stage of the previous crisis (see Chart 3; Chart 31 in Annex 1 shows the country results).

Looking at firm size, the number of vulnerable firms has increased for all sizes, but smaller firms remain rather more vulnerable than larger companies. In this survey round, the percentage of vulnerable enterprises among large firms increased to 9.6% (from 3.5%), compared with increases to 9.3% for micro firms (from 6.1%) and to 10.3% for small SMEs (from 3.7%). The percentage of firms characterised as “profitable”^[6] is below 3% for all size categories and in most cases at or close to historically low levels.

Focusing on SMEs, the indicators of profitable and vulnerable firms reveal some heterogeneity across countries (see Chart 4 for the euro area and the large countries). The percentage of distressed companies rose strongly in most countries, particularly Spain (to 18.9%, from 5.6%), Italy (11.3%, from 9.7%) and France (9.6%, from 4.3%). The percentage of vulnerable SMEs also rose in Germany (8.9%, from 2.4%). As regards profitable firms, the percentage likewise continued to decline in all large countries, with the decline in France (to 1.5%, from 5.2%) particularly noticeable. For the trend in other euro area countries, see Chart 31 in Annex 1.

For the second year in a row, the questionnaire included two additional questions for euro area enterprises: (1) on their main export markets and (2) on the impact of late payments on their business plans. Box 1 summarises the main results.

2.2 SMEs are more concerned about finding customers and less concerned about their access to finance

Finding customers and availability of skilled labour continue to be the main concerns for euro area SMEs during the COVID-19 crisis (see Chart 5). However, in this survey round, difficulty in finding customers rose marginally (reported as the main concern by 22% of firms, up from 21% in the previous round), while concerns about availability of skilled labour declined (19%, down from 24%). In addition, concerns regarding costs of production (11%, from 13%), regulation (11%, from 12%) and competition (9%, from 11%) eased slightly in this survey round. By contrast, SMEs reported rising concern over access to finance (10%, from 8%), although the level is still far from the historical peaks observed in 2011.

Finding customers became the dominant concern for euro area SMEs, overtaking availability of skilled labour in this survey round. Looking at a breakdown by firm size, micro, small and medium-sized euro area companies cited finding customers as their main concern, with percentages of 21% (from 20%), 21% (from 22%) and 23% (from 22%) respectively. The subdued economic activity as a result of the COVID-19 crisis has eased concerns about the availability of skilled workers among SMEs regardless of their size: on balance, only 17%, 21% and 19% of micro, small and medium-sized companies respectively reported being concerned in this survey round, compared with 21%, 26% and 28% respectively in the previous survey round. Moreover, large firms showed a similar easing in their concerns over finding skilled staff (16%, from 25%). Across firm sizes, the concerns regarding costs of production, regulation and competition eased slightly in this survey round. Meanwhile, concern over access to finance rose slightly, but this continues to be considered among the least important obstacles for euro area SMEs.

The main concerns among SMEs follow a similar pattern across euro area countries, albeit with some differences (see Chart 6 and Chart 32 in Annex 1). Among the largest euro area countries, Spanish SMEs most frequently cited finding customers as their main problem (25%, which is above the euro area average of 22%). At the same time, the lack of skilled staff was signalled as the biggest concern for German SMEs (25%) but as less of a problem for Spanish SMEs (10%). Among other euro area countries, Irish SMEs (29% versus 11%) and Portuguese SMEs (29% versus 13%) also showed greater concern over finding customers than over lack of skilled staff.

SMEs’ concerns over access to finance have increased in the majority of countries, but it nonetheless remains the least pressing problem in most countries, with the level of concern far below historical peaks. Greek SMEs continued to be disproportionately affected by the lack of access to finance, with 22% (from 19%) of firms still citing it as their most important problem, well above the level for the other euro area countries, which, with the exception of Italy (14%, from 10%), showed net percentages in single digits.

SMEs’ responses regarding the importance of access to finance in the current situation on a scale of 1-10 (see Chart 7) confirm the overall picture of rising concern in most countries. Scores increased in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Slovakia, as well as in the euro area as a whole. In fact, in terms of magnitude, concern among SMEs over access to finance is at its highest level in recent years in most of those countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Slovakia). In Greece, it is still perceived as a very important issue (with a rating of 6.6 on average), while scores in Portugal (5.8), Italy (5.6) and Spain are above the 5 mark. Finland continues to report the lowest average score (3.1).

3 SMEs’ financing needs and sources

3.1 SMEs increased their use of subsidised loans

Bank-related products remained the most relevant financing source for SMEs, ahead of subsidised loans (see Chart 8). For the period from April to September 2020, around half of the euro area SMEs considered bank loans and credit lines to be relevant financial instruments for their businesses (50% and 49% respectively).^[8]

The use of subsidised loans reached its highest level (25%, from 11%) since 2009, when the survey began, with 45% of SMEs (from 42%) indicating such loans as a potential source of finance. Other instruments mentioned by SMEs as an important source of finance were leasing or hire-purchase (43%), trade credit (28%), and internal funds (25%). Lastly, 18% of SMEs pointed to other loans (for example from family, friends or related companies) as a relevant source of finance. Market-based instruments, such as equity (10%), debt securities (2%) and factoring (9%) were much less frequently considered as a potential source of finance, with very marginal changes compared with the previous survey round.

The use of most financing instruments increased with firm size: the share of large firms that reported having used any given financing instrument was in all instances higher than that for SMEs, except in the case of subsidised loans (see Chart 9). While short-term bank finance (credit line/bank overdraft/credit card) remained the most popular source of finance by some margin, the use of other financing instruments was more heterogeneous. For example, large firms favoured leasing or hire-purchase to bank loans, while SMEs reported having used subsidised loans more frequently than bank loans. Equity and debt securities, on the other hand, remained among the least frequently used sources of finance across all firm sizes.

Distinguishing between vulnerable and profitable SMEs can make it possible to analyse the impact a company’s financial situation may have on the sources of finance used (see Chart 10). Vulnerable firms resorted to credit lines (54%) and subsidised loans (45%) as their main source of external financing to a much larger extent than profitable firms (21% and 12% respectively). In turn, profitable firms chose leasing or hire-purchase more frequently than vulnerable firms or relied more on their internal funds.

3.2 Demand for external financing among euro area SMEs continued to rise

Demand for most external financing instruments among SMEs continued to rise (see Chart 11). SMEs reported a marked increase in their demand for bank loans^[9] (20%, from 8%), while demand for credit lines and trade credit increased slightly less than previously (16% and 12%, from 13% and 11% respectively). Demand for leasing and hire-purchase agreements also increased at a slower pace (at 6%, from 10%).

Large firms reported a continued increase in demand for external financing, albeit a weaker one than in the previous survey round. In net terms, while a higher share of large firms reported increases in demand for bank loans (20%, from 15%), for other loans the share remained unchanged at 13%. Demand for credit lines and leasing activity was marginally lower (at 11% and 12%, from 13% and 16%) while, on balance, fewer large firms reported an increased need for trade credit (3%, from 15%) than in the previous round.

Euro area SMEs reported significantly higher demand for bank finance than in the previous survey round in most countries. With the exception of the Netherlands, SMEs indicated increasing needs for bank loans in all euro area countries. Among the four largest economies, SMEs reported strongly increasing needs for bank loans in Spain (34%, from 14%), Italy (28%, from 12%) and France (25%, from 14%). Meanwhile, the need for bank loans rose more moderately in Germany (8%, from 0%, see Chart 12). The demand for credit lines rose in Spain (31%, from 20%) and Germany (11%, from 7%). It also rose, at a marginally lower rate than in the previous round, in France (14%, from 15%) and Italy (16%, from 17%).

There was more heterogeneity across the large euro area countries for other types of external financing. Compared with the last survey round, SMEs reported a larger increase in the demand for other types of loans (from family, friends and related enterprises or shareholders) in France and Italy, but a somewhat lower increase in France and a decline in Germany. Demand for leasing and hire-purchase in turn increased most in France, while it rose at a similar speed in Germany and increased by less in Spain and Italy. Recourse to trade credit, however, was reported as being lower than in the previous survey round in the four countries.

In the other euro area countries, demand for external financing continued to be strongest in Greece. Greek SMEs reported strong demand for bank loans (38%, from 23%) and credit lines (34%, from 32%) (see Chart 33 in Annex 1).

3.3 SMEs continued to use financing primarily for inventory and working capital, and less for fixed investments

Financing from external and internal sources continued to be used mainly for inventories and working capital, followed by fixed investment (see Chart 13). Around 40% of SMEs (from 35%) mentioned using inventory and working capital, while 32% (43% previously) reported using financing for fixed investment.

The prevalence of fixed investment continued to be associated with company size. While 55% of large firms reported using funds for fixed investment, this applied to only 26% of micro firms. Investment in working capital and inventories was also related to firm size (51% for large firms, but only 35% for micro firms). Less frequently, SMEs used financing to hire and train employees (18%, from 20%), develop new products (18%, from 20%) and refinance obligations (17%, from 13%). Among the firms in large euro area countries, German SMEs continued to stand out in terms of use of funds for fixed investment, hiring and training. Around 41% of German SMEs reported using funding for fixed investment, compared with only 34% of Italian or 26% of French SMEs. Spanish firms continued to make strong use of financing for inventory and working capital (52%), employing it more frequently for this purpose than for fixed investment (see Chart 14).

4 Availability of external financing for SMEs in the euro area

4.1 Small improvement in the availability of external financing amid growing concerns over macroeconomic factors and the financial position of enterprises

4.1.1 Availability of bank loans slightly improved

In the latest survey round, SMEs reported small improvements in the availability of external financing sources relevant for their business (see Chart 15).^[10] For bank loans in particular, one of the most important sources of funding for SMEs, the net percentage of respondents indicating improved availability increased to 6% (from 5%). For all other financing instruments except trade credit, the net percentage of SMEs reporting easier access decreased to 3% for credit lines (from 4%), to 3% for leasing and hire-purchase (from 12%) and to 0% for other loans (from 2%). Reflecting the continued disruption in supply chains, euro area SMEs signalled a decline in the supply of trade credit (-1%, from 3%).

Medium-sized companies were the most positive in their assessment of the availability of external financing. In this survey round, the net percentage of firms reporting better access to external funding declined strongly for large enterprises, narrowing the gap to smaller firms. This was the case for bank loans in particular, for which a net 11% of medium-sized firms reported better availability, compared with 1% of micro and 3% of large companies. The differences are slightly smaller for trade credit (-4% for micro companies, compared with -1% for large companies, but 3% for medium-sized ones), credit lines (-2%, compared with 2% and 6%), other loans (-3%, compared with 0% and 3%) and leasing and hire-purchase (2% for both micro and large companies, compared with 5% for medium-sized companies).

Across countries, the differences are increasing (see Chart 16 and Chart 33 in Annex 1). Higher net percentages of respondents indicated better availability of bank loans, particularly in Spain, France and Italy, counterbalanced by lower percentages in the remaining countries, particularly in the case of Dutch, Greek, Irish and Finnish SMEs.

4.1.2 Demand for external funds rose faster than availability

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the external financing gap of euro area SMEs has remained positive across all euro area countries. For the euro area as a whole, SMEs perceived the improvements in their access to external funds to be smaller than the corresponding financing needs, resulting in a positive external financing gap of 5% (from 2%), see Chart 17). At the level of individual euro area countries, the financing gap was highest in Greece (17%), Portugal (11%) and Spain (8%) (see also Chart 34 in Annex 1).

4.1.3 SMEs signalled strong concerns in relation to macroeconomic factors affecting their access to external finance

The adverse macroeconomic environment was reflected in the replies of SMEs regarding the impact of various factors on the availability of external finance (see Chart 18). Specifically, SMEs perceived changes in the general economic outlook to have negatively affected their access to finance (-41%, from -30%). In addition, euro area SMEs reported that deteriorations in their firm-specific outlook (-30%, from -18%) and capital position (-7%, from 5%) were also negatively affecting their ability to access to finance. By contrast, firms’ perceived creditworthiness seemed not to be affected yet as 2% of euro area SMEs continued to report improvements, down from 11% in the previous survey round.

Large and medium-sized enterprises conveyed a more negative view of the business environment influencing their access to external finance than SMEs.
A net 48% of large enterprises and 41% of medium-sized ones reported that the general economic outlook might have become an impediment for their access to external finance (from -25% and -28% respectively). While the assessment by medium and large enterprises deteriorated more in terms of their firm-specific outlook, it continued to improve in terms of their own capital and credit history in net terms, albeit by much less than in previous survey rounds. For the willingness of banks to lend, the net percentage of micro firms indicating better conditions declined slightly (to 4%, from 5%), as was the case for the other size classes, with the highest drops in percentages for large and medium-sized enterprises (at 6% and 11% respectively, from 16% and 19% in the previous survey round).

In the largest euro area countries, SMEs’ negative sentiment about the business environment increased considerably, while nearly all other factors affecting their access to external finance receded further relative to the previous survey round (see Chart 19). SMEs in Germany (-41%, from -34%), Spain (-47%, from 31%), France (-38%, from -24%) and Italy (-31%, from -36%) acknowledged the ongoing negative contribution made by the general economic outlook to the availability of external financing.

This increasingly negative impact was likewise observed across all the other euro area countries but was strongest in Austria (-57%, from -31%), Finland (-50%, from -44%), Portugal (-49%, from -29%) and Ireland (-48%, from -20%).

At the same time, banks’ willingness to provide credit continued to improve, albeit by less than in previous survey rounds. 7% of SMEs reported, in net terms, an increasing willingness of banks to lend (from 11%), masking some heterogeneity across countries. The highest percentages of SMEs that felt there had been an improvement in the supply of bank credit were recorded in Spain (16%, from 14%) and Italy (15%, from 4%). Meanwhile, the percentage declined but still remained positive in France (11%, from 14%) and Germany (6%, from 12%). Elsewhere, the willingness of banks to lend was seen as having declined most in the Netherlands (-18%, from 5%) and Belgium (-5%, from 6%) (see Chart 35 in Annex 1).

For the first time since 2009, euro area SMEs reported an improvement in access to public financial support (14%, from -3%), an indication that the initiatives by a number of governments to provide public guarantees for bank loans during the COVID-19 pandemic have fed through to these enterprises. Across countries, the percentages of SMEs were highest in Austria (38%, from 5%), Ireland (25%, from -1%), France (23%, from 0%) and Germany (20%, from 8%). They were lowest in Italy (4%, from -19%), Spain (8%, from -11%), where they turned positive for the first time since the inception of the survey, and the Netherlands (8%, from 0%). By contrast, in Belgium and Slovakia a small net percentage of SMEs reported a deterioration in public financial support (-2%, from -6%, and -1%, from -9%).

4.2 No significant changes in financing obstacles for SMEs

The share of SMEs reporting obstacles to obtaining a bank loan remained almost unchanged, while it increased for large enterprises (see Chart 20, panel a). Among enterprises judging bank loans relevant for their funding, 8.1% of SMEs faced obstacles to obtaining a loan (slightly up from 7.8%); the share increased to 6.7% for large enterprises (from 2.9%).

Looking at the different components of the financing obstacles indicator, the proportion of SMEs discouraged from applying for a loan declined to 3.5% (from 4.4%), while for large enterprises it increased to 2.4% (from 1.1%). At the same time, the proportion of loan applications rejected increased for SMEs (2%, from 1.3%) but declined slightly for large enterprises (0.9%, from 1.0%). By contrast, a higher percentage of SMEs and large companies reported receiving only a limited part of the loan amount requested (2.3% for SMEs and 2.4% for large firms), both higher than in the previous survey round (1.6% and 0.8%). Almost no enterprise (SME or large) considered the cost of a loan to be too high, but large companies indicated higher loan costs (1.0%, from 0.4%)

Across the largest euro area countries, the share of SMEs perceiving financing obstacles declined in Spain and Italy, but increased in Germany (see Chart 20, panel b). Reductions in the share of SMEs facing financing constraints were reported in Spain and Italy (from 9.3% to 8.2% in Spain and from 10.5% to 8.4% in Italy), as fewer SMEs signalled they were discouraged, although in Spain more SMEs signalled that they were quantity-constrained than six months previously. By contrast, in Germany there was an increase to 6.7% (from 5.5%) in the percentage of SMEs facing financing obstacles as a consequence of SMEs being more discouraged than in the previous survey round. French SMEs reported no changes in financing obstacles (6%), with a slightly higher percentage of quantity constrained firms offset by a smaller percentage of discouraged firms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of SMEs reporting difficulties in accessing bank loans has increased in some countries and, in this survey round, was highest in the Netherlands (10.2%, from 8.5%) and Greece (27.3%, from 22%).

A small but increasing share of SMEs applied for a bank loan according to figures based only on firms that deemed such financing relevant for their business (see Chart 36 in Annex 1). At the level of the euro area, 38% of SMEs applied for a loan (from 29%), while 33% of SMEs did not apply because of sufficient availability of internal funds (from 42%). Among firms submitting a loan application, 71% reported being successful in obtaining the full amount requested (from 67%) (see Chart 37 in Annex 1). Among large enterprises, 73% received the full amount requested, down from 80%.

4.3 Interest rates declined while other costs of financing continued to increase

In this survey round, SMEs reported declines in interest rates on bank loans, with the net percentage reaching -4% (down from -10% in the previous round), although medium-sized firms reported an increase (2%, from -18%) (see Chart 21). SMEs continued to report an increase in other costs of financing, such as charges, fees and commissions, albeit a slightly smaller one than in the previous survey round (20%, from 31%). Other terms and conditions of bank loans were considered to have improved by a similar net percentage of SMEs compared with the previous round, including the available size of a loan or credit line (14%, from 7%), the available maturity (14%, from 2%), collateral requirements (9%, from 14%) and other requirements (15%, from 17%).

By contrast, large enterprises indicated a strong increase in interest rates and other costs of financing. A substantial net percentage of large enterprises reported higher interest rates on loans granted to them (21%, from -16%) than SMEs. At the same time, a greater net share of large enterprises indicated rises in other costs of financing (26%, from 22%) and other requirements (20%, from 12%), but also increasing size of available loans or credit lines (17%, from 12%). The net percentages remained more stable with respect to the previous survey round for other terms and conditions, namely collateral requirements (11%, from 10%) and available maturity (6%, from 4%).

Developments in interest rates were mixed in the large euro area economies (see Chart 22). The net percentage of SMEs reporting reductions in interest rates declined in Germany (-3%%, from -14%) and France (-7%, from -28%), while it was much higher in Italy (-12%, from 3%). In Spain, SMEs reported a slight increase in interest rates (4%, from -2%). By contrast, smaller shares of SMEs reported increases in other costs of financing in all four countries, Italy (14%, from 29%), France (19%, from 34%), Germany (20%, from 29%) and Spain (24%, from 34%).

In the other euro area countries, SMEs reported lower interest rates, with the exception of Belgian SMEs (see Chart 38 and Chart 39 in Annex 1). With regard to increases in other costs of financing (charges, fees and commissions), SMEs in most countries reported some deceleration relative to the previous survey round, except in the Netherlands and in Finland.

When asked about interest rates charged by banks on credit lines and overdrafts between April and September 2020, SMEs signalled some declines (see Chart 23)^[11]. The median interest rate for SMEs decreased by 33 basis points to 1.7%. By contrast, interest rates for large enterprises remained broadly unchanged at 1.0% (4 basis points lower), considerably below the borrowing costs for all types of SMEs, particularly when compared with micro firms (2.5%, down from 3.0%).

In most large euro area countries, the interest rates charged for bank overdrafts and credit lines either decreased or remained unchanged. The highest reductions were signalled in Italy, where the reported median rate dropped by 75 basis points to 1.75%, and in Spain, where it fell by 55 basis point to 1.60%. The median rate also declined in Germany, falling 50 basis points to 2%. By contrast, French SMEs reported an unchanged median rate of 1% (see Chart 24).

Around 47% of the SMEs interviewed indicated that bank loans are not a relevant source of finance for them. In the vast majority of these cases, SMEs had no need for financing via bank loan (74%; see Chart 25). A small percentage pointed to high interest rates or price as the primary reason for not using bank loans (8%, from 7%), with peaks in Spain (13%, from 7%), Portugal (20%, from 18%) and Greece (30%, from 27%).

5 Expectations regarding access to finance

5.1 SMEs concerned about their access to external financing in the near future

In this survey round, SMEs are expecting a deterioration in the availability of most external financing sources (see Chart 26). Specifically, SMEs’ expectations regarding access to bank loans over the next six months have deteriorated to -16% in net terms from the -11% reported in the previous survey round. Similarly, expectations regarding access to credit lines have also declined to a net -14% (from -11%). For trade credit, the net percentage is -14% (from -20%), while for other loans it is -10% (from -11%), and for leasing and hire-purchase it is -2% (from -3%). SMEs’ expectations regarding debt securities issuance (-15%, from -16%) and equity issuance (-3%, from -5%) likewise point to a deterioration.^[12]

Across company sizes, larger enterprises tend to be somewhat less pessimistic in their expectations for most sources of external financing. For example, while the net percentages for large firms also show that they expect a deterioration in access to bank-related products in the months ahead, these percentages are generally lower than those for SMEs regarding bank loans (-12%, compared with -16% for SMEs), credit lines (-9%, compared with -14%), and leasing or hire-purchase (broadly unchanged compared with -2%), even though smaller firms seem to have benefited more than larger firms from improvements in external financing over the last six months. This is also the case for other sources of external funds, except equity investment (-4%, compared with -3% for SMEs).

SMEs’ expectations regarding the availability of external financing in the coming months show a high degree of heterogeneity across the largest euro area countries (see Chart 27). For example, a deterioration from the last round is expected in Germany (-19%, compared with -9% in the last round), Spain (-28%, compared with -12%) and France (21%, compared with -9%). By contrast, Italian SMEs, on balance, expect a slight improvement (2%, compared with -13%) in the availability of bank loans in the next six months. Italian firms also expect relatively lower deteriorations for trade credit and credit lines, while French companies are the only ones expecting an improvement in equity issuance, and Spanish firms are alone in expecting an improvement in debt securities issuance (see Chart 27).

Expectations regarding turnover suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting effect on business activity. The net percentage figure (-9%) indicates that, on balance, euro area enterprises foresee a continued decrease in turnover during the next six months (see Chart 28 ) – although the number of SMEs expecting a further decline in turnover is lower than the number of enterprises that reported an actual decline over the past six months (-46%). Survey results also indicated some heterogeneity in the expected speed of recovery among countries. In Belgium (1%), the Netherlands (2%) and particularly in Finland (10%), higher turnover is already expected, on balance, over the next six months, while in Germany (-1%) and Italy (-4%) expectations suggest relatively mild declines. By contrast, the expectations of firms in Ireland (-28%), Greece (-26%), Spain and Portugal (-23% in both cases) clearly indicate a continued decrease in turnover, suggesting that there will be no recovery in business activity in those countries over the next six months.

Annexes

Annex 1
Overview of the survey replies – selected charts

Q9. For each of the following types of financing, would you say that their availability has improved, remained unchanged or deteriorated for your enterprise over the past six months?

Base: SMEs for which the respective instrument is relevant. Figures refer to rounds 16 (October 2016-March 2017) to 23 (April-September 2020) of the survey.
Note: See the notes to Chart 1 and Chart 11.

Q9. For each of the following types of financing, would you say that their availability has improved, remained unchanged or deteriorated for your enterprise over the past six months?

Base: SMEs for which the respective instrument is relevant. “Not applicable” and “Don’t know” answers are excluded. Figures refer to rounds 16 (October 2016-March 2017) to 23 (April-September 2020) of the survey.
Notes: See the notes to Chart 17. The financing gap indicator combines both financing needs and availability of bank loans, credit lines, trade credit, equity and debt securities at the firm level. For each of the five financing instruments, the indicator of the perceived change in the financing gap takes the value of 1 (-1) if the need increases (decreases) and availability decreases (increases). If enterprises perceive only a one-sided increase (decrease) in the financing gap, the variable is assigned a value of 0.5 (-0.5). The composite indicator is the weighted average of the financing gap related to the five instruments. A positive value of the indicator suggests an increasing financing gap. Values are multiplied by 100 to obtain weighted net balances in percentages.

Annex 2
Descriptive statistics for the sample of enterprises

Annex 3
Methodological information on the survey

This annex presents the main changes introduced in the latest round of the Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE). For an overview of how the survey was set up, the general characteristics of the euro area enterprises that participated in the survey and the changes introduced to the methodology and the questionnaire over time, see the “Methodological information on the survey and user guide for the anonymised micro dataset” available on the ECB’s website.^[13]

Since September 2014 the survey has been carried out by Panteia b.v., in cooperation with the fieldwork provider GDCC. To the best of our knowledge, no breaks in the series are attributable to any change of provider over the life cycle of the survey.

However, some changes in the questionnaire may have caused a break between the round covering the second half of 2013 and that covering the first half of 2014. This stems from the review of various components of the survey after ten survey rounds, covering the questionnaire, sample allocation, survey mode and weighting scheme (see Annex 4 in the corresponding report on the ECB’s website for details^[14]).

With regard to the weighting scheme, up to the survey round in the first half of 2015, the calibration targets were updated with each survey round based on the latest available figures from Eurostat’s structural business statistics (SBS). Since then, with all the euro area countries participating in the survey, the weighting scheme has been updated once a year.^[15]

In this survey round, no major changes were made to the existing questions in the questionnaire.^[16]