The European Investment Fund (EIF) and UniCredit have signed an agreement to increase the InnovFin SME guarantee aimed at developing innovations.  InnovFin aims to facilitate access to finance for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small mid-caps located in eight countries.

This new agreement will allow UniCredit to offer, both via its banks and leasing entities, additional financing worth EUR 340 million to innovative companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Serbia.  Along with the initially signed framework agreement of EUR 160 million, SMEs and small mid-caps across the above countries will have access to a total of half a billion euros.

InnovFin has been available to UniCredit Bulbank since the end of 2016 for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.

What is new for Bulgaria concerning InnovFin is that UniCredit Leasing has also become an intermediary under the facility with a total portfolio of €15 million.  In this way, the facility will be available to lease clients as well.

The agreement will be implemented with the support of the EU Research and Innovation framework programme Horizon 2020 and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) underlying the Investment Plan for Europe.

The banks from UniCredit Group in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia will benefit from the support of a guarantee provided by EIF and backed under the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020, while the guarantee agreements with UniCredit banks in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary and Romania will be backed with funds granted by EFSI.

European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said:  “The geographical reach of the European Fund for Strategic Investments is of paramount importance and under today's agreement with UniCredit, six Central-Eastern EU countries will benefit. SMEs in those Member States – as well as in two neighbouring countries - can now apply to UniCredit for loans with the EU budget guarantee to start up and scale up their businesses.’’

EIF Chief Executive Pier Luigi Gilibert said:  “With the increase to this umbrella agreements announced today, more than 500 innovative SMEs will benefit from new financing options delivered by UniCredit in eight different countries through its 13 subsidiaries. UniCredit will leverage on its past experience under InnovFin, strong focus on SME and small mid-caps, and an extensive network of branches across the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to target high-growth potential companies whilst fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Carlo Vivaldi, Head of CEE Division of UniCredit, said: “Thanks to the increase of this umbrella facility, we can further facilitate the development of innovative SMEs across our countries allowing easier access to finance and boosting local economies. This confirms our commitment in serving our clients in the Central and Eastern region.”

The transaction reflects the EU's commitment to rapidly launch concrete initiatives aiming at accelerating lending and guarantee transactions capable of boosting jobs and growth in the EU.

About the European Investment Fund.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them access finance.  EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment.

About UniCredit

UniCredit is a strong Pan-European Group with a simple commercial banking model and a fully plugged in Corporate & Investment Bank, delivering its unique Western, Central and Eastern European network to its extensive 25 million strong client franchise.

UniCredit offers local expertise as well as international reach and accompanies and supports its clients globally, providing clients with unparalleled access to leading banks in its 14 core markets as well as an another 19 countries worldwide.  UniCredit European banking network includes Italy, Germany, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey.

About the Investment Plan for Europe

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is the main pillar of the Juncker Plan and provides first loss guarantees, enabling the EIB to invest in more projects that often come with greater risks. EFSI has already yielded tangible results. The projects and agreements approved for financing under EFSI are expected to mobilise more than EUR 284bn in investment and support almost 611 000 SMEs in the 28 Member States.

About InnovFin

The InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility is established under the “EU InnovFin Finance for Innovators” initiative backed by Horizon 2020. It provides guarantees and counter-guarantees on debt financing of between EUR 25 000 and EUR 7.5 million in order to improve access to loan finance for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and small mid-caps (up to 499 employees).  The facility is managed by EIF, and is rolled out through financial intermediaries – banks and other financial institutions – in EU Member States and Associated Countries.  Under this facility, financial intermediaries are guaranteed by EIF.

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Additional media information:

Victoria Blajeva, tel +359 (0) 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Beatris Nikolova, tel +359 (0) 2 9232 528, cfbusjt/ojlpmpwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Ekaterina Ancheva, tel +359 894 518 193 , flbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch