The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Resilience Partners, a private debt firm, have partnered to provide financing support and flexibility to high-growth Spanish and European SMEs. In view of the large demand from companies with financial needs, the Resilience Partners Fund II, S.C.A., SICAR has achieved a first close and expects to mobilise a total of €150-200 million in financing to these companies. The operation, named Minerva 2 is a synthetic securitisation (with no asset assignment) and is being backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe.

Resilience Partners Fund II is backed by the EIF and several institutional and private investors. The EIF, part of the European Investment Bank Group (EIB and EIF), has continuously supported Resilience Partners’ team since the first fund. The success of Resilience Partners Fund I has validated that the demand for these types of solutions has outgrown the first fund size.

The EIF has formalised its commitment to Resilience Partners Fund II, S.C.A., SICAR due to the impact its financing can have in the real economy. Specifically, Resilience Partners finances SME growth leaders in their segments, which find it more difficult to obtain financing from traditional sources. Therefore, these investments contribute to the companies’ growth in Spain and Europe. In particular, this financing helps Spanish companies, characterised by a smaller size than their European counterparts, increase their average size and solidness significantly. Resilience Partners may finance companies at different stages of their growth, financing products adapted to their needs at each specific time, becoming a long-term partner.

Resilience Partners continues steadily in its investment process. Through Resilience Partners Fund I, it has successfully closed 13 investments in Spanish companies. A new investment has been closed through the recently launched Resilience Partners Fund II. Through these investments, a network of companies has been developed which jointly have generated €693 million in revenues during 2020 (+11% vs. 2019), contributed to more than 850 jobs (+6.3% vs. investment date), and have a positive impact in the real economy, reaching companies in the different industries in which they operate.

With the support demonstrated by the EIF and other investors, Resilience Partners Fund II will be able to continue providing tailor-made financing solutions to Spanish and European SMEs which cannot find suitable solutions in the traditional financing formulas, more so, taking into account the uncertainty caused by the actual crisis.

EIF Chief Executive Alain Godard said: “Resilience Partners has demonstrated to be a great partner to support SMEs’ access to finance across Europe. This commitment reinforces our common strategy aimed at supporting managers that cover an important area of the SMEs market in search of financing alternatives to achieve a sustainable growth”.

Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said: “Small and medium-sized businesses need diversified sources of funding to grow and innovate. This fund, supported by the Investment Plan for Europe and the EIF, is a great example of tailor-made financing solutions for SMEs in Spain and Europe. It will help businesses to create jobs and support the economic recovery.”

Adriana Oller, founder of Resilience Partners: “It is a great opportunity to create real impact in the society and in the SMEs segment which needs support and financing solutions to achieve their long-term growth strategies. We are looking to move one step further and serve as a partner to reinforce best practices in environmental, social and governance areas in our network of portfolio companies”.

Resilience Partners Fund II, S.C.A., SICAR, has been constituted under article 8 of the EU taxonomy regulation for sustainable activities, tracking the environmental evolution and behaviour as well as impact generated, as it has been doing as of today in line with its internal ESG policy.

Background information

About the European Investment Fund

The European Investment Fund is part of the European Investment Bank Group. The EIF designs and develops both venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. [SL1] The EIF is also active in supporting Climate and Infrastructure fund investments with a strong focus on climate action & environmental sustainability. Through its activities, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of countering climate change as well as fostering innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

About the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is the main pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe. It provides first loss guarantees that enable the EIB Group to invest in riskier projects. The projects and agreements approved for financing as part of EFSI have to date attracted investments totalling €546.5 billion and benefiting more than 1.4 million SMEs. In Spain, total EFSI financing currently stands at €13.2 billion and has been used to activate €63 billion in additional investments.

About Resilience Partners

With EUR 100M of AUM, Resilience Partners specializes in helping Spanish companies with solid track record to execute its long-term expansion plans, offering flexible financing solutions. Resilience Partners focuses on companies with EBITDA’s between EUR 3-15 M, leaders in their segment, with consolidated management teams and long-term financing needs to execute strategic plans.

For further information on Resilience Partners visit: http://www.resiliencepart.com/

For further information on the European Investment Fund: http://www.eif.org/index.htm

Press contact

EIF:

Lorenzo Squintani, tel.: +352 691 285 772, l.squintani@eib.org - Follow us on Twitter@eif_eu
Website: www.eif.org - Press Office: +352 4379 21000 – press@eib.org