The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 200 million agreement with Bankinter to finance the investment projects – especially innovation projects – of SME and midcap companies (with up to 3 000 employees) in the industrial and service sectors. Bankinter will match this EIB loan with the same amount, meaning that a total of EUR 400 million will be made available to SMEs and midcaps.
This loan has been granted under the Bank’s policy of supporting the economic development of small and medium-sized businesses by providing credit on preferential terms including longer maturities, flexible disbursement schedules and lower interest rates to foster job creation. These improved terms will be passed on to the end borrowers.
A large part of this loan will be earmarked for complementing the financing of innovative SMEs and midcaps under the Risk Sharing Instrument (RSI) guarantee programme of the European Investment Fund (EIF), whereby Bankinter and the EIF will share the credit risks.
The aim of these resources is to improve the Bank’s support for the economic development of SMEs in Spain. A number of the projects eligible for financing under this credit line will be located in convergence regions. This EIB loan will also help to boost the productivity and competitiveness of the beneficiary firms, foster the rational use of energy and diversification of energy sources and promote private enterprise in the health and education sectors.
Supporting small and medium-sized businesses is an EIB priority. In 2012, the Bank provided EUR 2 875 million for new credit lines designed to finance the investment projects of SMEs and midcaps in Spain.
Photographer: EIB ©To be defined
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