BERLIN - GERMAN companies are showing a great deal of interest in tapping state aid that the government has made available under its twin economic stimulus packages, an Economy Ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

'Not every request leads to a concrete offer (of aid),' the spokesman added.

He was responding to a report in Der Spiegel magazine that a growing number of high-profile German companies were interested in tapping 115 billion euros' (S$228 billion) worth of guarantees and loans the government set aside under the stimulus packages.

Spiegel said carmaker Porsche and BMW had asked state bank KfW about the conditions for obtaining the government loans.

Porsche declined to comment on which banks it was in contact with. BMW declined to comment. The carmaker had said in the past it was considering asking for loan guarantees.

Spiegel reported that Heidelberger Druck, the world's largest printing press maker, had requested 300 million euros in state loans and 400 million euros in guarantees, and that this had been authorised on Wednesday. Heidelberger Druck was not immediately available to comment.

On Friday, debt-burdened German retailer Arcandor said it planned to ask the government for 650 million euros ($885 million) in loan guarantees and a loan from the German state development bank. Arcandor's banks were aiming to submit the application at the end of next week, it added.

Reuters reported on Thursday Arcandor would seek between 500 million and 700 million euros in state loan guarantees and was also considering state credit facilities.

The government has up to 75 billion euros in guarantees and 40 billion euros in loans available under its stimulus packages.

Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that state aid would be tied to clear, objective criteria. -- REUTERS