The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is expanding its financial support for Ukrainian businesses by extending an unfunded portfolio risk-sharing facility to OTP Leasing.
The initiative will help unlock €160 million in new leasing finance, providing companies access to critical resources amid the ongoing war.
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Under the agreement, the EBRD will cover up to 50% of OTP Leasing’s credit risk on new leasing contracts. This risk-sharing mechanism will enable OTP Leasing to offer sub-leases to businesses in key sectors, including agribusiness, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transport, and logistics. The initiative aims to support Ukrainian companies’ operations and maintain access to essential goods, contributing to the country’s economic recovery.
This marks the fifth such facility the EBRD has provided to OTP Leasing, reflecting continued collaboration since the war began. In total, the EBRD has facilitated more than €2 billion in financing through similar guarantees for Ukrainian financial institutions since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Up to 30% of the risk-shared loans will be directed towards long-term investments by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in European Union-compliant and green technologies. These investments, part of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line, aim to enhance Ukrainian firms’ competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
Eligible sub-borrowers will also receive EU-funded technical assistance and investment incentives through the EU’s Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF). The EBRD has already allocated €70.8 million in EU grant support for Ukrainian MSMEs under this programme.
The risk-sharing facility will also prioritise financial inclusion, particularly for vulnerable groups affected by the war. War veterans, internally displaced persons, and businesses that have suffered asset losses or are supporting workforce reintegration efforts will receive additional investment incentives.
France will provide first-loss risk cover to back the facility.
OTP Leasing, a subsidiary of Hungary-based OTP Bank, is Ukraine’s leading leasing company, offering financial leases and fleet management services to corporate and MSME clients.
The EBRD remains the largest institutional investor in Ukraine, with more than €22 billion invested across over 600 projects. Since the full-scale invasion, the bank has deployed more than €6 billion to support Ukraine’s real economy.
