The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and Norway’s DNB Bank ASA joined forces in a landmark initiative to provide €190 million in financing to accelerate green transitions across Nordic businesses. This partnership intends to revolutionize sustainable regional funding and commemorates the EIB’s inaugural investment in Norway fifty years ago.
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Driving Green Investment Across the Nordics
The financing initiative targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. As the region’s first green synthetic securitisation, it exclusively supports 100% climate-focused projects. Leasing zero-emission vehicles and implementing sustainable transportation technology are important investment opportunities, especially in industries like construction.
This green push aligns with the European Union’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The program advances environmental objectives and supports sustainable economic growth by empowering companies to reduce carbon emissions.
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Backed by the InvestEU Programme
The initiative includes credit protection from the EIB Group and is funded by the European Commission’s InvestEU program. This backing allows DNB to offer favourable financing terms for climate-related projects, unlocking capital that would otherwise remain untapped.
Thomas Östros, Vice President said, “Our partnership with DNB will bolster investment and accelerate the green transition in the Nordics,”
He added, “This initiative demonstrates how innovative financing can spur both economic growth and climate action.”
The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group, played a vital role in structuring the green securitisation, helping mitigate financial risks for DNB while unlocking resources for environmentally sustainable projects.
Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the EIF, emphasised the collaboration’s significance: “This transaction represents our first securitisation in Norway and our first green securitisation in the region, where we note an increased interest in risk sharing transactions.”
This transaction aligns with the goals of the EU’s Capital Markets Union and offers a model for other regions to replicate. The proposal significantly strengthens Norway’s ability to assist green finance while the European Securitization Regulation was adopted.