KB Kookmin Bank has completed 4.37 trillion won in funding as the lead arranger for the GTX-C metropolitan express rail line private investment project.

KB Kookmin Bank said on Sept. 30 it signed a financing agreement on Sept. 29 with project operator GTX-C Co., Ltd. for the GTX-C line private investment project.

The GTX-C project is a metropolitan transport network development plan spanning 86.46 km with 14 stations, linking Deokjeong Station in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, to Suwon Station via Uijeongbu and Seoul's Cheongnyangni, Samseong and Yangjae areas.

A total of 19 financial institutions participated in the financing. Funding will be raised through 3.13 trillion won in senior loans and 1.24 trillion won in funds, including equity capital and mezzanine and subordinated loans.

KB Kookmin Bank secured 1.5 trillion won in guarantees from the Industrial Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Fund to bolster the stability of the senior loans, and applied a permanent closed-end fund structure to some of the funds.

With the financing agreement as a turning point, KB Kookmin Bank plans to expand support for productive financing, including transport network infrastructure.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said, "Despite market conditions in which project costs and financing costs have increased, we completed the funding based on our accumulated arranging capabilities." The official added, "We will continue to provide financial support for infrastructure projects that contribute to national economic development."