Newsletter n°8, Winter 2010

Global survey on Impact of the financial crisis on the Public Finance specialized banks and their regional and local partners. You find the survey here.

Click here to read the Press Release.

ICLC's Conference and General Assembly took place in Brussels, 14 - 16 October.

The Conference tackled the impact of the financial and economic crisis on banks specialised in public financing and their local partners.

All news

Newsletter n°8, Winter 2010

Survey shows that the autumn financial crisis did not lead to a credit crunch for Local Authorities.

Click here to read press release.

The International Centre for Local Credit present itself here.

Looking at the Urban century and gives a snapshot on the local status of a global crisis.

N.V. Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten

Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten (BNG) is a bank of and for local authorities and public sector institutions.

BNG’s specialised financial services helps minimising the public cost of social provisions. This mission is indicative of the bank’s longstanding strategy of combining cost-efficient solutions with client partnership. The mission and strategy of BNG are translated into strategic objectives. These objectives are to retain substantial market shares in the Dutch public and semi-public domain and to achieve a reasonable return for the shareholders. Maintaining an excellent rating and realising client partnership as effectively and efficiently as possible are necessary prerequisites in this endeavour.

Since all the shareholders in BNG are public authorities, BNG is itself part of this public sector. BNG’s clients are local authorities, housing, healthcare, educational and cultural institutions and public utilities. BNG provides made-to-measure financial services ranging from loans and advances and funds transfer to consultancy, electronic banking and investment. BNG also participates in projects within the framework of public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Founded in 1914, BNG is a statutory two-tier company under Dutch law (structuurvennootschap). Half of the bank’s share capital is held by the State of the Netherlands and the other half is owned by municipal authorities, provincial authorities, and a water board. For a full list of shareholders, see BNG's annual report.

Changes in the present stakeholder structure are not expected and the government's strong commitment to its current holding was evidenced by its participation in the most recent issue of shares in 1990 in order to maintain its 50% stake. The central government's 50% stake has been held since 1925 and there have only been two share transfers among lower tier governmental entities in BNG's entire history.

Share ownership is restricted to Dutch public sector entities. Owing to the restrictions on share ownership as stated in article 6 of its Articles of Association, BNG shares are not listed on any stock exchange.

Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten (www.bng.nl)

Financial information, in English