Sweden. Deutsche Leasing Sverige AB

This loan was agreed in two tranches. On 1 April 2019, EUR 6 million were agreed, and on 12 June 2019, another EUR 6 million were signed.

The loan has been provided to Deutsche Leasing Sverige AB (DLS) for onlending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and smaller mid-caps (SMCs) in Sweden, as well as in Finland, Denmark and Norway. The programme will finance equipment leasing and is expected to alleviate credit constraints for smaller companies.

This is the third loan facility signed between Deutsche Leasing Sverige and NIB; the first agreement was signed in 2016, and the second followed in 2017. The first two loan facilities have been fully allocated.

Deutsche Leasing Sverige AB was established in 2006, and provides asset finance and asset services in Sweden as well as in Denmark, Finland and Norway. The company is a member of the Deutsche Leasing Group, which is a leading asset finance partner for medium-sized companies in Germany, offering a range of investment-related finance solutions and other complementary services. Deutsche Leasing has presences in over 20 countries in the world.

Leasing finance provides opportunities for SMEs and small mid-caps to acquire costly capital equipment. The loan facility is expected to alleviate credit constraints and facilitate productivity growth. Access to finance in the SME sector is of greater concern than for large enterprises, mainly because SMEs and small mid-caps are dependent on bank financing. Improved access to financing for projects that raise productivity can increase competitive pressure and efficiency in the markets.

Projects that are financed through a financial intermediary are required to fulfil the requirements defined in NIB’s Sustainability Policy and Guidelines.