Glossary

AAA/Aaa-rating

NIB's bonds enjoy the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's.
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A/B loan

Under an A/B loan structure NIB is the lender of record for, and administers, the entire loan amount consisting of an A loan and a B loan. NIB keeps the A loan for its own account while the B loan is funded by commercial banks pursuant to a "Participation Agreement" signed by NIB with such "Participants". The borrower benefits from longer tenors and higher-value financing through exemption from withholding taxes on loan payments. NIB fully shares project risks with the participating banks which are able to share NIB's preferred creditor status. The A/B loan structure enables NIB to improve the delivery of its mandate by offering more comprehensive, larger-value financing packages.
Loan products

Authorised capital

NIB is owned by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The eight member countries have subscribed the authorised capital of NIB according to a distribution key based on the member countries' gross national income.
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Competitiveness

NIB finances projects that strengthen competitiveness and enhance the environment.
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Eligibility criteria

All projects financed by NIB should strengthen competitiveness and/or enhance the environment, in accordance with NIB's mandate.
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Environment

NIB finances projects that strengthen competitiveness and enhance the environment.
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Environmental audit

NIB conducts an internal environmental review of all loan applications. The review is based on, e.g., environmental audits/environmental due diligencies. An environmental audit is conducted to assess the impact of past and current operations of existing projects and company facilities and is applicable, for instance, in company mergers or acquisitions and otherwise when the risk of environmental liabilities is present. The need for an environmental audit is different from the need for an environmental impact assessment (EIA), and these two do not substitute for one another.
NIB and the environment

Environmental due diligence

see Environmental audit

Environmental impact assessment (EIA)

NIB conducts an internal environmental review of all loan applications. The review is based on, e.g., environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The environmental impact assessment report should include the following topics: executive summary; operational framework; project description; policy, legal and administrative framework; baseline data; environmental impacts; analysis of alternatives; mitigation measures; monitoring plan; community engagement; and management plan. The need for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is different from the need for an environmental audit, and these two do not substitute for one another. 
NIB and the environment

European Principles for the Environment (EPE)

NIB, together with four other European multilateral financial institutions, has signed the declaration European Principles for the Environment (EPE), concerning environmental management in the financing of projects. The aim of the declaration is to promote sustainable development and to protect and improve the environment.
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Intermediary

NIB cooperates with both financial and governmental intermediaries, which channel NIB financing further. Especially, NIB channels financing to projects of small and medium-sized enterprises through intermediaries.
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International financial institution (IFI)

NIB is an international financial institution (IFI), comparable to, for example, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Typical for such institutions is that they are established by an international treaty entered into between their member countries under public international law. Like other IFIs, NIB is also governed by its constituent documents. Furthermore, IFIs are characterised by membership support reflected in creditworthiness. Like all IFIs, NIB has the status of a preferred creditor, which means in particular that the Bank in its member countries and through its agreements with non-member countries will not be required to participate in the rescheduling of national debt.
Structure & Management at NIB
NIB's Legal framework and policy documents

Mandate

All projects financed by NIB should strengthen competitiveness and/or enhance the environment, in accordance with NIB's mandate and eligibility criteria.
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Multilateral financial institution

see International financial institution

Nordic Development Fund (NDF)

The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) is a multilateral development financing organisation. NDF together with NIB and two other international financial institutions form the Nordic Finance Group.
Nordic Finance Group

Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO)

The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) is a multilateral risk capital institution financing environmental projects mainly in Eastern Europe. NEFCO together with NIB and two other international financial institutions form the Nordic Finance Group.
Nordic Finance Group

Nordic Finance Group

The Nordic Finance Group consists of four international financial institutions located in the same block in Helsinki, Finland, all with different types of aims, financing and competences. In addition to NIB, the following institutions belong to the group: Nordic Development Fund (NDF), Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) and Nordic Project Fund (Nopef).
Nordic Finance Group

Nordic Project Fund (Nopef)

The Nordic Project Fund (Nopef) is a Nordic internationalf organisation that works to strengthen the international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises by providing loans on favourable terms for cofinancing feasibility studies. Nopef together with NIB and two other international financial institutions form the Nordic Finance Group.
Nordic Finance Group

Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP)

NIB is an active partner in the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP), which is a cooperative effort to coordinate and support the financing of urgent environmental investments in Northwest Russia.
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Public Private Partnership (PPP)  

Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a model in which a public service is funded, implemented and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector entities. NIB, with its experience in complex financing structures, may assist its customers with project and structured finance, e.g. using the PPP model. NIB has financed PPP projects concerning, e.g., road building in Finland, Norway and Poland and wastewater treatment in Russia.
NIB loans