|
Slovenian bank to receive loan from EBRD
Small and medium-sized private businesses in Slovenia will have easier access to credit resources as a result of a loan agreement signed today between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the SKB Banka D.D., one of the largest banks in Slovenia.
The loan is for DM 50 million (ECU 26 million) and will be used to fund SKB's medium-term and long-term sub-loans for capital investment projects, start-up working capital, and acquisition of shares in companies being privatised to improve management and efficiency. The borrowers will be private companies or public sector enterprises which are implementing a programme to achieve private ownership and control.
Mario Sarcinelli, Vice President of the EBRD, said: "This loan will give a boost to the development of the private sector in Slovenia. It will promote SKB's aims to provide innovative financing and quality services to the private sector in the Slovenian economy."
Cvetka Selsek, Executive Vice President International of the SKB Bank, said: "We are certainly very pleased to be the first Slovenian bank to have finalised such an important loan agreement with the EBRD. We are confident that the funds thus acquired will have a significant impact on the Slovenian economy. It is important that Slovenia has finally returned to the international capital market and that the provider is the EBRD."
SKB was incorporated on 29 December 1989 as a joint-stock company. It is the second largest bank in Slovenia in terms of branch network and equity capital and the leading bank in terms of growth. SKB's goal is to become a universal bank, with a full range of commercial, retail, international and investment-banking operations. SKB does not have any outstanding foreign rescheduled debts dating from the former Yugoslavia.
|
