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. Given 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.
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.
“Small and medium-sized businesses need diversified sources of funding to grow and innovate,” said Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for the Economy. “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.”
The EIF has formalised its commitment to Resilience Partners Fund II, S.C.A., SICAR due to the impact its financing can have on 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 has demonstrated to be a great partner to support SMEs’ access to finance across Europe,” said Alain Godard, Chief Executive, EIF. “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 sustainable growth.”
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.
Adriana Oller, Founder of Resilience Partners, added: “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.”