Publications

This study discusses the main characteristics of the SME sector in Europe and provides an informative analysis about what Basel II means for SMEs and its impact on their credit financing conditions. It also presents a detailed analysis of how banks formulate an internal rating system and illustrates how this system works in practice. Finally, it concludes with the key measures that should be taken by banks, SMEs and public policy- makers to improve SME financing in the new rating culture. The conclusions of the study are summarised below.