Release date: 31 May 2021
Promoter – Financial Intermediary
UNICREDIT SPALocation
Description
Multi-country guarantee operation under the European Guarantee Fund (EGF) to support the financing of mid-caps and large corporates located in participating EGF Member States (primarily Italy, France and Spain) in sectors that are in line with the EIB's long-term mission (innovation, environment and indirect support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, UC will build a complementary SME portfolio matching the size of the EGF guarantee.
Additionality and Impact
Linked risk sharing instrument under the Pan-European Guarantee Fund (EGF) in Italy, providing support to entities in the contributing Member States affected by the COVID19 pandemic, to foster access to liquidity and economic recovery. The operation addresses the underlying market failure in access to finance faced by SMEs and Midcaps due to information asymmetries and higher screening costs for smaller investments, which has been exacerbated due to the impact of COVID19. Liquidity needs are urgent and have become a matter of survival for millions of entities throughout Europe, which had been viable until the COVID19 outbreak but are facing financial difficulties as a result of the current economic crisis. The need for policy support towards liquidity and credit/guarantee will persist far beyond the immediate semi-lockdown period, before entities can refocus their business and resume investment. Linked risk sharing operations undertaken by the EIB group and supported by the EGF are not only compatible with the measures of the ECB, EC and national regulators, they are also uniquely coupled to the provision of new eligible financing to target beneficiaries.
Objectives
Operation under the European Guarantee Fund (EGF) to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-caps and large corporates in sectors that are in line with the EIB's long-term mission (SME and mid-cap support, innovation, and environment) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sector(s)
- Credit lines - Credit lines
Proposed EIB finance (Approximate amount)
EUR 750 million
Total cost (Approximate amount)
EUR 2450 million
Environmental aspects
The EIB will require that UniCredit S.p.A. take all the required measures to ensure that final recipients (SMEs and mid-caps) meet the EIB's environmental standards and related EU/national legislation.
Procurement
The EIB will require that UniCredit S.p.A. take all the required measures to ensure that final recipients (SMEs and mid-caps) meet the EIB's procurement standards and related EU/national legislation.
Status
Signed - 11/05/2021
Disclaimer
Before financing approval by the Board of Directors, and before loan signature, projects are under appraisal and negotiation. The information and data provided on this page are therefore indicative.
They are provided for transparency purposes only and cannot be considered to represent official EIB policy (see also the Explanatory notes).