The EIB Group, comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has partnered with BNL BNP Paribas to mobilise €335 million in support of Italy’s real economy, targeting the investments and working capital needs of around 300 Italian companies. The announcement was made by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and BNL CEO Elena Goitini, underscoring a long-standing partnership that has supported over 1,000 businesses since 2018 and mobilised more than €2.3 billion in new financing for Italian companies.
The new agreement features a synthetic securitisation of mortgage loans promoted by BNL BNP Paribas, with the EIF guaranteeing a €111.6 million mezzanine tranche fully counter-guaranteed by the EIB. This structure allows BNL to release regulatory capital, generating new lending capacity that will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees and mid-caps with fewer than 3,000 employees.
Beyond supporting business investment, the agreement targets two strategic priorities for Italy: economic development in southern regions and growth in the agrifood sector, which represents approximately 15% of the country’s GDP. Roughly half of the total funds, €167.5 million, will be allocated to projects in cohesion regions, while over €100 million will support businesses in the agrifood sector, enhancing sustainability, regional development, and employment.
“This agreement confirms the EIB Group’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in Italy,” said Vice-President Vigliotti. “Through effective financial instruments and close collaboration with the banking system, we can mobilise significant resources to strengthen the real economy, promote territorial cohesion, and support strategic sectors such as the agrifood industry.”
BNL CEO Elena Goitini emphasized the bank’s role in fostering competitiveness and innovation: “Promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the development of production activities are at the heart of our strategy. This partnership with the EIB Group enables us to provide resources and know-how that help Italian companies manage the green and digital transitions and strengthen the Made in Italy brand.”
The EIB Group, as the EU’s long-term lending institution, focuses on projects that bolster climate action, digitalisation, cohesion, agriculture, social infrastructure, and broader EU policy objectives. In 2024, the Group signed nearly €89 billion in financing for over 900 high-impact projects, unlocking significant new investments in energy security, startups, and scale-ups, with nearly half of its EU financing directed to lower-income cohesion regions.
BNL BNP Paribas, with over 110 years of history in Italy and part of the BNP Paribas Group since 2006, operates nationwide and provides services to private, corporate, and public clients. The bank is committed to economic, social, and environmental sustainability, leveraging its operations to generate positive impacts for customers, employees, and communities.
This latest initiative reflects a continued effort to combine financial innovation with strategic support for key regions and sectors, driving growth, competitiveness, and resilience in Italy’s economy.
