Presentation of the White Paper “GROWTH CAPITAL” at the Madrid Stock Exchange: Driving Alternative Financing for SMEs

In this context, on Wednesday, March 13, the Madrid Stock Exchange hosted the presentation of the white paper “GROWTH CAPITAL: A Financing Lever and Value Creation for SMEs”, written by Mariano Colmenar from LKS NEXT.

The event featured two panel discussions addressing key aspects of SME financing through capital markets:

"GROWTH CAPITAL AS A VALUE CREATION LEVER", highlighting how expansion capital can drive business transformation.

"ATTRACTING PRIVATE CAPITAL TO PUBLIC MARKETS", where public and private investors discussed how companies can capture their interest and make the leap to listed markets.

Both the white paper and the discussions emphasized growth capital as a vital financing alternative for SMEs in expansion phases, enabling them to access strategic resources through investors in both private and public markets.

Additionally, the event underscored the crucial role of financial advisors in this process and the need to develop a business ecosystem that attracts investment, turning companies into "investable businesses."

As Mariano Colmenar, Head of Capital Markets at LKS NEXT and author of the White Paper, stated: " The incorporation of SMEs into capital markets is a key strategy to enhance their value, increase their visibility, and access an additional source of financing to drive their growth, both organically and through acquisitions. For LKS Corporate Finance, whose mission is to support SMEs throughout their growth cycle, being part of the BME Growth and Scaleup ecosystem as a Registered Advisor is a fundamental tool within our portfolio of services".

Key Takeaways and Recommendations

The White Paper outlines several measures to strengthen this ecosystem and improve access to capital, including:

?? Promoting an entrepreneurial culture and financial education.

?? Enhancing the regulatory and tax environment for growing businesses.

?? Boosting liquidity in Spain’s capital markets.

Initiatives like this reinforce the commitment to alternative financing as a driving force for the growth and consolidation of SMEs in Spain.