NIB finances improvement of laboratory facilities

NIB and Helsingin Yliopistokiinteistöt Oy have signed a 10-year-maturity loan totalling EUR 50 million for the financing of an investment programme for the years 2012–2016.

The programme is aimed at the renovation and construction of laboratory facilities. It consists of three projects. The main project is the construction of a new building for the laboratory unit of the Helsinki University Central Hospital, HUSLAB. This unit is the largest provider of laboratory services to hospitals and medical research in Finland.

Another project is the renovation of the laboratories at two research facilities, Biokeskus 1 and Biokeskus 2 to increase capacity and improve the air conditioning system.

The third project is the renovation of the Chemicum building to improve the air conditioning system in order to decrease energy consumption.

“The centralisation of laboratory operations is expected to have a positive effect on productivity and release space from the main hospital campus for care units, thus mitigating challenges related to increasing healthcare costs in the region,” says Henrik Normann, President & CEO of the Nordic Investment Bank.

Helsingin Yliopistokiinteistöt Oy is a real estate company specialised in the ownership and development of premises used by several Helsinki-based universities. The company was founded in 2009 and is part of the University of Helsinki Group. The university holds a 61% stake and the Finnish Government 33% of the company. HYK Oy owns and operates over 50% of the total real estate assets of the University of Helsinki Group.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact
Kersti Talving, Senior Manager Origination, at +358 10 618 0245,

Arild Moen, Senior Communications Officer, at +358 10 618 0496,