The European Investment Fund (EIF) and two subsidiaries of Sberbank Europe AG have signed two loan agreements aimed at supporting up to 2,000 micro-enterprises in Croatia and Slovakia.

Progress Microfinance is initiated and funded by the European Commission and managed by the European Investment Fund.

These agreements will allow Sberbank d.d Croatia and Sberbank Slovensko, a.s. Slovakia to provide enhanced access to finance to micro-entrepreneurs, many of whom face difficulties in accessing credit from traditional banking sources.

Micro-enterprises wishing to apply for a micro-loan under Progress Microfinance can directly contact Sberbank’s branches in Croatia and Slovakia.

About the European Progress Microfinance Facility

The European Progress Microfinance Facility (Progress Microfinance) provides guarantees and funded instruments to microfinance intermediaries. The initiative is established with EUR 205 million of funding from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. Progress Microfinance aims to increase access to finance for micro-entrepreneurs, including the self-employed. It has a particular focus on, but is not restricted to, groups with limited access to the conventional credit market. Examples include female entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs belonging to a minority group, entrepreneurs with a disability, sole traders etc. Loans less than EUR 25,000 are made available through selected intermediaries participating in the facility. Progress Microfinance does not provide direct financing to micro-entrepreneurs or individuals.

Sberbank Croatia and Slovakia mark the 74^th and 75^th transactions signed under Progress Microfinance since its inception in 2010. To date, commitments of EUR 164 million under Progress Microfinance have been signed to benefit micro-borrowers. Progress Microfinance agreements have been signed to date with financial intermediaries in 21 EU-Member States including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and the UK.

For further information about this initiative please visit: www.ec.europa.eu/epmf

About EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment. EIF’s total net commitments to private equity funds amounted to over EUR 8.8 billion at the end of 2014. With investments in over 500 funds, the EIF is a leading player in European venture due to the scale and the scope of its investments, especially in high-tech and early-stage segments. The EIF’s guarantees loan portfolio totalled over EUR 5.6 billion in over 350 operations at end 2014, positioning it as a major European SME guarantees actor and a leading micro-finance guarantor.

More information about EIF is available on www.eif.org.

About Sberbank Croatia

Sberbank d.d. ranks 9th in terms of total assets on the Croatian banking market and became a member of the Sberbank banking group in February 2012.
Due to its international network, the Bank is able to provide financial support to its clients not only in Croatia, in which it operates a branch network of 31
branches in 22 Croatian cities, but also to support the client's efforts in doing business abroad.
In December 31, 2014 total assets of the Bank amounted to HRK 10.264 mio, and its capital adequacy was at 19,70%, which indicates the Bank’s high level of security and stability.

About Sberbank Slovakia

The bank has been operating on Slovak market since 1993 and as a member of the Sberbank Group since February 2012. Sberbank Slovensko is a fully universal bank offering complex products and services for retail clients, micro-enterprises, SME´s and large corporations as well. Following a clear strategy Sberbank achieved in 2014 the best financial result in its history. In the past three years the bank received several prizes. It operates 45 branches in Slovakia. By the end of 2014 total assets amounted EUR 2,023 billion.

Press information - please contact:

David Yormesor, EIF, d.yormesor@eif.org, or visit EIF’s website www.eif.org

Doris Ladewig, Head of Corporate Communications, Sberbank Europe AG

doris.ladewig@sberbank.at

Nikolina Jerkin, Marketing i komunikacije Direktor službe, Sberbank d.d., nikolina.jerkin@sberbank.hr

Lubomira Chmelova, Corporate Communications Manager, Sberbank Slovensko,

a.s., lubomira.chmelova@sberbank.sk