The European Investment Fund (EIF) and UniCredit have decided to provide up to EUR 1 billion funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Slovakia to expedite their economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the proposed deal, EIF will offer UniCredit EUR 700 million in guarantees. The banks, leasing institutions, and other members of the UniCredit Group in the four countries mentioned above will extend loans and other financial products to SMEs under more favorable terms such as lower interest rates, lesser collateral requirements, longer grace periods, or extended maturities.
