Release date: 8 December 2023
Promoter – Financial Intermediary
PIRAEUS BANK SALocation
Description
The risk-sharing operation will support mid-caps in Greece operating in EIB's eligible sectors.
Additionality and Impact
This linked risk sharing operation is designed to provide support to mid-caps in access to finance and to contribute to long-term economic growth. The operation addresses the underlying market failure of access to finance faced by Mid-Caps due to information asymmetries and credit considerations. Given the economic uncertainty exacerbated by supply chain constraints, inflation, rising interest rates, energy security constraints and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the proposed operation may alleviate some of the pressures faced by the real economy. The guarantee operates by providing capital relief to the Financial Intermediary and thereby free up additional lending capacity, thus enabling them to channel funds into transactions that they would likely not have financed without the EIB's intervention and at more beneficial terms (for example longer tenors, lower interest rates, lower collateral requirements). More specifically, the operation is anticipated to support social objectives such as employment via the provision of eligible transactions such as loans for working capital and investment purposes to mid-caps.
The Financial Intermediary is an established player in the local market and a repeat client of the EIB, with an excellent track record in implementing EIB products. It is an innovative product for the Greek market, is complementary to EIF offerings in the local SME sphere and is generally expected to carry a signalling effect to the market, reduce risk perceptions and crowd in other private financiers.
Objectives
The aim is to enhance access to finance for eligible beneficiaries.
Sector(s)
- Credit lines - Credit lines
Proposed EIB finance (Approximate amount)
EUR 200 million
Total cost (Approximate amount)
EUR 560 million
Environmental aspects
Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.
Procurement
Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.
Status
Signed - 22/12/2023
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).