Investment Plan in Poland: €67.5 million for sustainable development of chemical company

• The Bank will increase the financing provided at the beginning of last year to €67.5 million.
• The funds will support the company’s modernisation plans and the construction of the Process Innovation and Scaling Centre.
• Both loan agreements are backed by an EFSI guarantee under the Investment Plan for Europe

On 28 September 2020, PCC Rokita SA signed an annex to the loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), under which the Bank has granted the company additional financing for €22.5 million, increasing the loan granted to PCC Rokita at the beginning of last year from €45 million to €67.5 million.

The funds obtained from the financing will support the company in the implementation of investments of a total estimated value of €110.5 million. These include the further expansion and modernisation of chemical plants, such as the pilot plant for the development of polyols and the pilot plant for the production of phosphates and phosphites. They also include investments related to the expansion and optimisation of electrolysis production and the propylene oxide plant, the construction of the Process Innovation and Scaling Centre, and other investments aimed at adapting the existing infrastructure to the increased scale of operations.

Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for the Economy, said: “Thanks to the Investment Plan for Europe, the EIB will build on its successful cooperation with Polish chemical company PCC Rokita. The additional funding will help the company to continue shifting its production towards renewable and low-emission materials and expanding its innovation and development activities. In short, yet another European investment that is good for the climate and good for jobs.”

Teresa Czerwińska, EIB Vice-President who oversees operations in Poland, said: “The EIB as an institution has been consistently supporting projects with great potential for achieving EU policy goals, both in terms of economic development and employment growth. PCC Rokita is a trustworthy partner for us, and is valued as a reliable beneficiary of funds obtained as part of financing. This additional loan is intended to support the company at a time when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are most severely hitting the economy. The EIB intends to help PCC Rokita invest in innovation and low-carbon technologies and increase the company’s competitiveness when the economy recovers.”

Wiesław Klimkowski, President of the Management Board of PCC Rokita, said: “The increase in EIB financing is a recognition of its positive assessment of the company’s financial and economic situation. It is worth recalling that the EIB supports innovative projects that are not only environmentally friendly, but that also create prospects for long-term growth and new jobs.”

Rafał Zdon, Vice-President of the Management Board, said: “Looking back over the past few years, it is clear that the financing structure, which is based on the proceeds from the issue of bonds, credits and loans, as well as other forms of financing, is optimal for PCC Rokita’s activities. Given the sources of financing that are currently available and the further development of the company, we decided to expand our long-standing cooperation with the EIB, a stable financial partner.”

The annex does not result in other significant changes to the loan agreement with the EIB, which – under the original provisions – contains a number of obligations, such as maintaining the level of financial indices specified in the agreement, as well as limitations regarding the payment of dividends. Both loan agreements benefit from the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the financial pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe (the Juncker Plan).

Background information

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. In 2019, the EIB group provided €5.4 billion in financing to projects in Poland.

The Investment Plan for Europe – the Juncker Plan – was launched in November 2014 to reverse the downward trend in investment levels and put Europe on the path to economic recovery. Its innovative approach based on the use of an EU budget guarantee provided to the EIB Group has enabled and continues to enable substantial public and private sector funds to be mobilised for investment into strategic sectors of the European economy. The Juncker Plan has already generated nearly €514 billion of investment, including €22.3 billion in Poland, and supported   1.2 million start-ups and SMEs across Europe. Find the latest EFSI figures by sector and by country here, or see the FAQs.

PCC Rokita is the parent company of a Capital Group comprising several companies operating mainly in the chemical and service industries.