Since its establishment a year ago, KB EU Point has provided expert advice on projects worth almost CZK 50 billion

Prague, 30 March 2009 – For over a year, KB's specialised offices, KB EU Point, have been providing comprehensive advice to applicants for support from the EU Structural Funds. In 2008 alone, Komerční banka specialists provided technical expertise to grant applicants for almost 2,000 projects, the overall value of which was almost 50 billion crowns.

"KB EU Point's specialists hold, on average, 40 consultation sessions on EU funded projects every week. Two thirds of those who request advice are companies and business owners; one third are public sector applicants," says Jan Hanuš, head of the KB EU Point Promotion Centre. "In terms of the funding volume, municipalities and regions are KB EU Point's more important clients, making up 70% of the value of the projects discussed," adds Jan Hanuš.

Thanks to the assistance provided by KB EU Point's specialists, businesses, municipalities and other public institutions can find their way around the subsidy system more quickly, and can start taking specific steps to obtain funding and retain it on a long-term basis. They are also supported by the "Subsidy Survey", an in-depth analysis of the funding schemes suitable for each particular client or project.

On the basis of its extensive experience of financing projects in the period 2004-2006, Komerční banka has developed a special loan product, PONTE II. Thanks to PONTE II, applicants for EU funding can simultaneously arrange for the pre-financing of the subsidy and co-financing of expenditure that is not covered by subsidies.

"Large towns and cities often arrange for the financing of a whole 'package' of EU projects, because they want to ensure project financing to the maximum possible degree. Only then do they look for the sources of contributions to specific projects," adds Jan Hanuš.

In 2009 and 2010 KB EU Point expects the volume of the announced funding to peak, because all Operational Programmes have been fully prepared and have a well-functioning system for administering applications. The increase in the volume of this funding is also related to the government's fight against the economic recession because the inflow of EU funding provides noticeable support to the economy in Czech regions while having the least impact on the national budget.

Planned calls for proposals of most interest for KB EU Point's clients:

• Purchase of new machines (DEVELOPMENT)
  Applications accepted from April to July 2009, at least CZK 2.0 billion to be allocated
• Product or process innovation (INNOVATION)
  Applications accepted from April to June 2009, at least CZK 4.0 billion to be allocated
• Loan guarantees (ČMZRB GUARANTEES)
  Applications accepted from March to December 2009, approximately CZK 2.65 billion to be allocated
• Development of renewable energy sources in the public sector (OPŽP, ENVIRONMENT OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME)
  Applications accepted from May to June 2009, approximately CZK 2.5 billion to be allocated
• Protection and development of rural cultural heritage (PRV, RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME)
  Applications accepted in October 2009, approximately CZK 1.1 billion to be allocated
• Employee training, safeguarding jobs (OPLZZ, OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT)
  Applications accepted from March to May 2009, approximately CZK 3.3 billion to be allocated
• Regional research and development centres (VaVpI, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR INNOVATION)
  Applications accepted from March to April 2009, CZK 6 billion to be allocated

KB EU Point is preparing a range of useful information materials for grant applicants and other experts in the subsidy market - for example, an electronic EU newsletter with news concerning EU funding, specific information about subsidy programmes and examples of implemented projects, and a guide to applying for funding from the EU Structural Funds. The most recent source of information is EU Point Index, a monthly survey of general activity on the subsidy market in the Czech Republic.

For more detailed information about KB EU POINT services please call the toll-free info line at 800 900 930 or visit www.kb.cz/eupoint.

Komerční banka is one of the best run universal banks in Central Europe. It provides comprehensive services to clients in the areas of retail, corporate, and investment banking. The Komerční banka Group's 8,804 employees serve 1,629,000 clients, who can use an extensive network of 394 points of sale throughout the country. Komerční banka currently operates 673 ATMs and more than 951,000 of its clients use one of direct banking channels.

Komerční banka is part of the Société Générale Group, one of the largest banking groups in the euro zone (in terms of market capitalisation), whose 163,000 employees serve more than 30 million individual clients worldwide.

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