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Luxembourg : Investment Plan for Europe: EIB Group and Commerzbank join forces to provide additional lending to SMEs and Mid-Caps
Publish Date : 21-Apr-2017
The EIB Group, consisting of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has provided a mezzanine tranche guarantee of around EUR 90m to Commerzbank AG on a EUR 1.5bn portfolio of European corporate loans. The guarantee will release regulatory capital for Commerzbank under the current EU Regulation and will enable Commerzbank to provide further lending of several hundred million EUR to SMEs and mid-caps mainly in Germany. The transaction was made possible by the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). The EFSI is the central pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe, in which EIB Group and the European Commission are strategic partners.
Under this guarantee, EIB takes on the mezzanine risk under a synthetic securitisation transaction with Commerzbank. EIF is fronting the operation by providing a guarantee to Commerzbank in relation to an existing portfolio of corporate loans. EIB will provide a back-to-back counter-guarantee to EIF which will fully mirror EIFs obligations under its guarantee. In addition, EIB and Commerzbank will enter into a separate agreement, whereby Commerzbank agrees to comply with EFSI requirements.
Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President of the EIB and responsible for Germany, commented: The transaction clearly leverages EIB Group synergies, and it strengthens Commerzbanks capacity to increase the size of its SME and Mid-Cap portfolio. The support of SMEs and Mid-Caps is a top priority for the EIB Group as they are the biggest sector of the EU economy, with 23 million enterprises employing around 75 million people. Small and medium sized enterprises and Mid-Caps are responsible for the creation of one in every two new jobs and I am very glad that we are continuing our long and successful cooperation with Commerzbank in providing fresh access to finance for SMEs and Mid-Caps.
EIF Chief Executive, Pier Luigi Gilibert said: EIF is pleased to be working with Commerzbank and the EIB to provide additional access to finance for SMEs and Mid-Caps. The combination of EIFs investment and structuring expertise and the EIBs efficient deployment of EFSI funds offer a competitive financing solution for Commerzbank which will serve to boost the supply of finance in the real economy.
European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said: SMEs are the engines of job creation and growth across Europe. Today's agreement demonstrates that our strategy to support these SMEs through unlocking additional financing is working. With this EFSI-backed financing, they will be able to innovate, expand their activities and create new jobs. I wish the small businesses that will benefit from the financing backed by the Investment Plan every success.
Michael Reuther, Member of the Board of Managing Directors Commerzbank AG and CEO Corporate Clients said: Commerzbank is Germanys leading bank for SME and mid-cap lending and has been proudly co-operating with promotional banks for many years. This innovative product helps us to satisfy increasing client demands whilst providing the opportunity to manage our capital. Closing the very first synthetic securitisation under EFSI is a proof of Commerzbanks innovative spirit as well as a commitment to further support the German Mittelstand at competitive conditions.
