Today the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a Cooperation Agreement establishing the Loan Guarantee Instrument for trans-European transport network projects (LGTT). This new instrument will facilitate greater participation of the private sector in the financing of transport infrastructure of European significance, especially for investments in TENs projects where there is a high level of revenue risk in the early operational period of a project. The LGTT, which forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) programme and the EIB's Action for Growth initiative, will partially cover this risk and thereby significantly improve the financial viability of TENs investments. The capital contribution of €1 billion (€500 million each from the Commission and the EIB) is intended to support up to €20 billion of total capital investment.

"LGTT is a significant new instrument for financing European infrastructure. Not only are we making this innovative instrument available to the market today, but we also reiterate that private participation in the financing of transport infrastructure of European interest is welcome and needed", said Commission Vice-President in charge of transport Jacques Barrot when signing the agreement. "For some projects, a partnership between the public and the private sector can prove to be the most efficient way forward. The new guarantee instrument, unlocking billions of new investment for TEN-T, is a powerful tool to facilitate such partnerships."

"The LGTT will provide significant additional risk capital that should facilitate and accelerate private sector investment in TENs. It is in addition to the TENs Budgetary Resources from the Commission and existing loans from EIB. It is also a demonstration of very effective cooperation between two EU Institutions to support the development of the Trans-European Transport Network", said EIB President Philippe Maystadt at the occasion of the signature of the agreement. "To complete the range of financial products available to Trans-European Network projects, we are joining forces with the European Commission to facilitate private sector involvement in core transport infrastructure."

By signing the Agreement, Vice-President Barrot and President Maystadt officially launched this instrument. European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia, whose team also contributed to the conception of the LGTT, welcomed the creation of the new risk sharing instrument and expressed his confidence in the success of this initiative.

The Loan Guarantee Instrument for Trans-European Transport Network Projects

The investment required to complete and modernise the Trans-European Network, a precondition for the achievement of a true single market and regional integration, exceeds the capabilities of public funding. For the period 2007-2013 alone, the investment needs in TEN infrastructures are expected at some €300 billion in total. A significant financial gap in public sector resources is anticipated and it will only be overcome by mobilising private investment in large infrastructure projects. The LGTT – an EIB guarantee for subordinated debt in form of a stand-by liquidity facility to be provided by commercial banks – counters this problem by providing security for the initial traffic revenue risk over the first 5-7 years of a project's operation. The LGTT assists the project to cope with the initial risk while relying on the long-term perspective of the project being financially viable.

The design of LGTT, by improving the ability of borrower to service senior debt, enhances the overall credit quality and thereby encourages a reduction of risk margins applied to senior loans to the project. These savings should surpass the cost to the borrower of the guarantee, resulting in added financial value for the project. The incorporation of LGTT, by rendering private sector investment into a project more attractive and therefore less costly, will thus provide benefits to the society as a whole.

The LGTT will complement two other financial instruments of the European Commission tailored for TEN-T projects and aimed at increasing the participation of private capital. The Risk Capital Facility offers risk capital to investment funds focused on providing equity for TEN projects, whereas availability payment schemes can benefit from a construction cost based grant during the operational, post-construction phase of the project.

For more information see also the Fact-Sheet “The Loan Guarantee Instrument for Trans-European Transport Network Projects”.