The European Investment Bank (EIB) is granting a EUR 30m loan to support the research, development and innovation activities of the LISI Group, a French company and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high precision fasteners for use in the aeronautics and automotive industries.
This EIB loan will, in particular, go towards financing a new design centre for the group’s aeronautics division in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône near Paris.
The EIB’s presence alongside LISI is expected to have a catalytic effect on the finance plan for its expansion, thus enabling it to consolidate its position as a key supplier to major automotive and aeronautics manufacturers. The finance contracts were signed this morning in Paris in the presence of Mr Laurent de Mautort, EIB Director, and Mr Emmanuel Viellard, Deputy CEO of the LISI Group.
Support for research and innovation, drivers of growth in Europe. Supporting the European Union’s Lisbon Strategy, aimed at building a competitive knowledge and innovation-based European economy, is a priority for the EIB’s lending activity. The EIB, whose financing furthers the EU’s objectives, has to date lent over EUR 57bn in support of investment projects contributing to the implementation of the Lisbon agenda, of which some EUR 31bn for RDI projects.
The LISI Group:
LISI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fasteners and assembly components for the aeronautical, automotive and cosmetics/fragrances sectors. The LISI Group had a consolidated turnover of EUR 816m in 2007 and currently has a workforce of over 6 500. To complement its traditional markets, the LISI Group is developing a new division: LISI MEDICAL. Established in 2007, this new arm comprises the companies Hugueny, Jeropa and Seignol. Specialising in the subcontracted manufacturing of surgical implants for groups developing medical solutions, it generated annualised turnover of around EUR 25m in 2007.