FACTBOX-German companies seek state support

May 19 - The German government is offering 115 billion euros ($156.7 billion) in public support for companies hurt by the global economic crisis via what it calls the Germany Fund.

State development bank KfW is providing 40 billion euros in loans of up to 300 million per borrower. Creditor banks can also apply for government loan guarantees. The first decisions on the aid are due on Wednesday.

Here is a list of companies that have sought state support or have been reported to consider such a move.

For a separate list on bank aid click on

HEIDELBERG is the only company whose request for aid is set to be addressed on Wednesday, according to a person close to the matter. The world's biggest printing machine maker has sought a 350 million euro loan and 400 million in guarantees, according to news magazine Der Spiegel. The company declined comment.

ARCANDOR has said it wants 650 million euros in guarantees plus a KfW loan of unspecified size.

PORSCHE has sounded out KfW about potential conditions for a 1 billion euro loan, Der Spiegel reported. Porsche is struggling with a 9 billion euro net debt load built up in its attempt to seize control of Volkswagen. A Porsche spokesman said: "We don't name the banks with which we negotiate."

INFINEON has been angling for state aid as the chipmaker grapples with a sharp downturn in demand. The company has declined comment on where the matter stands.

SCHAEFFLER has sought 4 billion euros in state aid, according to media reports, but the unlisted ball bearings group has not confirmed this. Family owner Georg Schaeffler said late in February the company's capital need amounted to 5-6 billion euros. It is suffering from its leveraged takeover of larger car parts group Continental.

OPEL is seeking 3.3 billion euros in European state aid either in loans or loan guarantees, including 2.6 billion from Berlin, as General Motors spins off its European business. Senior Social Democrats have also suggested the state might need to take a temporary stake in Opel.

IVECO, the commercial vehicles manufacturer owned by Italy's Fiat, is on the list of applicants for state aid reported by Der Spiegel. No more details were available. Iveco was not immediately available for comment.

BMW has denied the Spiegel report it was seeking state aid. The premium carmaker has said in the past it might seek state guarantees for its financial services business from Germany's SoFFin bank rescue fund.

HOCHTIEF denied the Spiegel report that Germany's largest builder was considering seeking a 200 million euro state loan. "Hochtief has no need whatsoever for state financial aid," a spokesman said.

VOLKSWAGEN is still working out details with SoFFin over 2 billion euros in loan guarantees for its banking operations.

GMAC, which finances GM cars, and the German banking unit of Ford have also applied for SoFFin guarantees.