KfW IPEX-Bank launches new financing product for small export transactions

Frankfurt am Main (ots) - Range of financing products broadened in
particular for small and medium-sized enterprises

KfW IPEX-Bank will now also be able to offer long-term financing
for small export transactions. For this purpose it will be using an
instrument of Northstar Trade Finance which is being introduced into
the German market for the first time. The corresponding cooperation
agreement was signed in Frankfurt today.

A sufficient range of products is already available for
large-volume export transactions, often in combination with export
credit insurance. But sustainable financing schemes used to be
largely unavailable for small export transactions. KfW IPEX-Bank has
therefore made a great effort to find commercially viable solutions
for the financing of exports by small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs). It can now offer appropriate solutions in collaboration with
Northstar Trade Finance, a company which has already been operating
successfully in this business area. Through its subsidiary Northstar
Europe it will be providing financing on behalf of KfW IPEX-Bank for
European export transactions from a volume of EUR 0.5 million to EUR
5 million for terms of up to 5 years. Northstar Europe s.a. is a
joint venture between Northstar Trade Finance inc., the Office du
Ducroire (Luxembourg's public export credit agency) and SNCI
(Luxembourg's promotional bank). The lean structure of this
specialist provider and efficient processes tailored exactly to the
needs of this financing market enable economically viable
transactions in lesser volumes. The operations must be eligible for
cover from an export credit agency/ECA (Euler Hermes for German
exports) to qualify for financing.

Heinrich Heims, Speaker of the Board of Managing Directors of KfW
IPEX-Bank, emphasised that the new financing instrument will provide
relief particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises in a
difficult phase. "We are closing a gap in our range of products", he
said. "We will be providing an adequate supply of financing schemes
for small tickets, and in this way we will be supporting especially
the operations of small and medium-sized exporters. Particularly in
the crisis, an instrument of this kind can prove to be a sales
argument for German and European exporters that should not be
underestimated."

The team of experts of KfW IPEX-Bank can be contacted at
kmu_export@kfw.de for information on this new financing product.

About KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH

KfW IPEX-Bank is responsible for international investment, trade,
project and export finance within KfW Bankengruppe. Its task of
providing finance in the interest of the German and European economy
is derived from the statutory mandate of KfW Bankengruppe. The focus
of its business lies on the provision of medium and long-term
financing to support key industrial sectors, on the development of
economic and social infrastructure and on the financing of
environmental and climate protection. It operates as a legally
independent subsidiary of KfW Bankengruppe and makes a significant
contribution to its promotional mission. It has approx. 490 employees
(as of December 2009) and is represented in the main economic and
financial centres around the globe.

Originaltext: KfW-IPEX-Bank
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Pressekontakt:
KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, Palmengartenstraße 5-9, 60325 Frankfurt
Pressestelle: E-Mail: dela.strumpf@kfw.de
Tel. 069 7431-2984, Fax: 069 7431-9409, E-Mail:
info@kfw-ipex-bank.de, Internet: www.kfw-ipex-bank.de