Financial Institutions
We build deeper, more sustainable relationships with clients and partners based in Western Europe, leading to a greater number and variety of projects in the financial sector. Well-functioning, inclusive, and sustainable financial markets ensure efficient resource allocation and are essential for achieving the World Bank Group’s twin goals to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity, as well as meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Learn more about IFC's work with Financial Institutions.
Examples of What We Do
Amethis, Middle East and North Africa
IFC committed a €12.5 million equity investment in Amethis MENA Fund II, a target €150 million private equity fund managed by Amethis, a French investment fund manager dedicated to the African continent. The fund will finance high-growth SMEs in the consumer, healthcare, education, business services, manufacturing and technology sectors primarily in Morocco and Egypt. IFC’s investment will increase access to private equity capital for SMEs in the Middle East and North Africa region, helping preserve jobs and generating new employment opportunities during the COVID-19 crisis.
IFC committed a $182 million guarantee on a $4 billion-equivalent reference portfolio composed mostly of Crédit Agricole CIB (CACIB) trade finance assets in emerging markets. CACIB is the corporate and investment banking arm of the French banking group Crédit Agricole that has a comprehensive and growing business franchise in emerging markets. The transaction will allow CACIB to extend a considerable amount of incremental trade finance to support business development, as well as new loans across a wide range of emerging markets, helping to resume critical trade finance flows that were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
IFC committed a senior loan of €27.5 million to UniCredit Leasing Corporation (UCLC) to help scale up the company’s SME portfolio, with 40% of the proceeds dedicated to funding sustainable energy finance projects. UCLC is owned by UniCredit Romania, which is in turn owned by UniCredit Group, one of Europe’s leading commercial banking organizations headquartered in Italy. IFC’s investment will increase access to finance for the most underserved population segments in Romania, while cultivating climate-smart practices through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The project is expected to have a demonstration effect, helping create a market for sustainable energy finance projects in the country.
IFC committed a senior loan of up to $150 million to Santander Brazil, the third largest private bank in Brazil in terms of assets and a subsidiary of Spain-based Banco Santander. The loan will support Santander Brazil’s lending to climate-smart projects with a focus on renewable energy. IFC’s investment will help promote international green lending principles and contribute to the greening of the banking sector in Brazil.
