Application period for KfW Special Programme extended until 30 April 2022 – maximum loan amounts raised again

Given the current state of the pandemic, the German Federal Government and KfW are extending the deadline for applications to the KfW Special Programme until 30 April 2022, while once again raising the maximum credit limits. As such, the high-volume KfW Special Programme will remain open to businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to help them cover their liquidity needs.

The KfW Special Programme was launched on 23 March 2020 and is making a huge contribution to cushioning the effects of the coronavirus crisis. As of the 25 November 2021 reporting date, commitments totalling over EUR 52 billion had been made to over 145,000 businesses. Small and medium-sized enterprises have been the main beneficiaries of the KfW Special Programme.

The German Federal Government has agreed to the following changes:

1. We are providing businesses with additional planning security by extending the application period for the KfW Special Programme, including the KfW Instant Loan, beyond 31 December 2021 until 30 April 2022.

2. With the KfW Special Programme, we are supporting businesses with significantly higher maximum loan amounts for small-scale aid in future.

In future, the maximum credit amounts for the KfW Instant Loan will be:

• EUR 2.3 million for businesses with more than 50 employees (previously EUR 1.8 million)
• EUR 1.5 million for businesses with between 10 and 50 employees (previously EUR 1.125 million)
• EUR 850,000 for businesses with up to ten employees (previously EUR 675,000)

For corporate groups, the maximum credit limit will remain unchanged at 25 per cent of their annual turnover for 2019.

For the KfW Entrepreneur Loan and ERP Start-up Loan with terms of more than six years, we are increasing the maximum loan amount from the previous EUR 1.8 million to EUR 2.3 million.

3. KfW will implement these measures as of [1 January 2022]. With the improvements to the KfW coronavirus aid programmes, the German Federal Government and KfW are implementing the options created by the European Commission with the 6th amendment to the Temporary Framework for State Aid. The KfW Special Programme is available to businesses who, as per the requirements of the Temporary Framework, can prove that they were not in financial difficulty prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis. Financing for businesses in difficulty or those without a viable business model is excluded.