Signature is first Linked Risk Sharing agreement in Denmark, aimed at increasing risk appetite among banks and improving access to finance for Danish businesses.
Sydbank and the European Investment Bank have signed a new linked risk-sharing agreement that aims to make available up to €400 million in new financing for Danish Mid-Caps. The deal comes in the form of a fully delegated, uncapped guarantee worth €200 million. Under the first ever EIB-deal of this kind in Denmark, Sydbank can cover credit losses, stimulating risk appetite and improving lending conditions for Danish businesses. More specifically, with the applicable 50% guarantee rate on a loan-by-loan basis, Sydbank has committed to establish a new portfolio of loans worth €400m (nearly 3bn DKK). The newly available funding for Danish companies will be awarded under a full delegation model, meaning that the decision on all new loans rests with Sydbank.
“By partnering with the European Investment Bank on this agreement, we are taking a significant step forward in realising our ambitions to support Danish businesses. As Denmark’s business bank, we are deeply committed to fostering growth and innovation among Mid-Cap companies, and this initiative enhances our ability to offer financing on more favourable terms,” says Stig Westergaard, Deputy Group Chief Executive of Sydbank. “We are proud to work with the EIB, whose involvement underscores the strength of our efforts.”
“Mid-sized companies are the backbone of Denmark’s economy, and a key priority for the EIB Group is to make sure that those businesses can get the right type of financing.” added EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “Linked risk-sharing is interesting for banks as it supports them in offering financing on attractive terms. This is the first such operation in Denmark for the EIB, and we hope to see a signaling effect for other financial intermediaries, so that we can support those Mid-Caps that are disproportionately impacted by inflation and other external factors due to their predominantly export-oriented business model. We are very glad to work together with Sydbank to relieve this pressure on companies and hope to do more in Denmark in the near future.”
The agreement specifically benefits a segment of the Danish economy that is under pressure from international uncertainty due to inflation, energy insecurity and geopolitical instability. By making available new financing at attractive conditions, local businesses will have an additional source of financing for their projects. The Guarantee Facility is designed for Mid-Caps with a minimum of 250 employees and fewer than 3000 employees. Companies with fewer than 250 employees are also eligible, provided that both their annual turnover exceeds €50 million, and their annual balance sheet (assets) exceeds €43 million.
Background information
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It finances sound investment contributing toward EU policy goals. In 2023 alone, the EIB made available over €1 billion in financing for projects in Denmark, including in the medical research and energy transition sectors, as well as support for SMEs.
Sydbank is a full-service Danish commercial bank that provides retail, corporate, investment and private banking services, primarily to private individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises. Sydbank was established in 1970 and has grown to nationwide bank with offices in all 13 Danish regions as well as Northern Germany. Sydbank has 55 branches in the regions where it operates and is listed on the Nasdaq Copenhagen (ticker: SYDB).