February 06, 2013
European Investment Bank and Commerzbank agree on new global loan
- 400 million euros for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Germany
- 200 million euros for the local government sector and energy projects
Luxembourg/Frankfurt am Main – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is again making substantial loans available for companies from Germany’s Mittelstand. To this end it today concluded a financing agreement covering 400 million euros with Commerzbank in Frankfurt. The new funding framework will benefit small firms as well as medium-sized companies.
More than 95 per cent of German companies belong to the “Mittelstand” (small and medium enterprises, SME). In the financing of small- and medium-sized enterprises the EIB cooperates with financial institutes such as Commerzbank. The newly-signed loan agreement focuses on the financing of projects to be implemented in Germany.
Commerzbank, whose core business includes the Mittelstand, has long been one of the most important financing partners of the EIB in Germany. The new loans are to be made available to companies from various industries.
Furthermore, the two banks today concluded an additional financing agreement for 200 million euros. These funds are earmarked especially for the financing of smaller projects on the part of the public and private sectors in the energy field.
“SMEs remain a key topic for the EIB because it is they who are driving the growth in Europe. Commerzbank is an ideal partner for Mittelstand business in Germany. Thanks to its expertise, it is not only able to identify suitable projects in a reliable manner, but it also ensures that the funds are transferred swiftly – a crucial aspect for the clients,” said Wilhelm Molterer, Vice President of the EIB and responsible, among other things, for financing in Germany, at the signing of the agreement.
“As the leading bank for the Mittelstand in Germany we have been utilising the financing possibilities offered by the business development banks for many years already,” said Markus Beumer, a Member of the Board of Managing Directors of Commerzbank and responsible for Mittelstandsbank. “With the two new credit lines we can continue to meet the growing needs of our clients in the Mittelstand and the local authority sector – thus allowing us to offer them individual, long-term financing solutions with flexible terms for interest rates and maturities.”
Press contact
EIB
Eva Henkel: E-mail e.henkel@eib.org, Tel. +352 4379-82147, +352 621-339130
Press office: E-mail press@eib.org, Tel. +352 4379-21000
Internet: www.eib.org/press
Commerzbank
Martin Halusa: Tel. +49 170 8528638
Bernd Reh: Tel. +49 170 9143734
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About the EIB
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the bank of the European Union for long-term financing. Its owners are the EU member states. The task of the EIB is that of promoting the objectives of the EU through the long-term financing of sustainable projects.
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About Commerzbank
Commerzbank is a leading bank in Germany and Poland. It is also present worldwide in all markets for its customers as a partner to the business world. With the business areas Private Customers, Mittelstandsbank, Corporates & Markets and Central & Eastern Europe, it offers its private and corporate clients as well as institutional investors the banking and capital market services they need. With some 1,200 branches Commerzbank has one of the densest branch networks among German private banks. In total, Commerzbank boasts nearly 15 million private customers, as well as 1 million business and corporate clients. In 2011, it generated revenues of just under EUR 10 billion with some 58,000 employees.
