Romanian businesses to get extra financing as EIB provides €100 million credit to BRD Sogelease IFN

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.

• EIB lends BRD Sogelease IFN €100 million to expand financing for small firms and Mid-Caps in Romania.
• Four-fifths of EIB loan to support investments in less developed “cohesion regions”.
• Green projects due to receive 15% of financing.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €100 million to the leasing subsidiary of BRD Groupe Société Générale to increase financing for businesses across Romania. The EIB loan to BRD Sogelease IFN SA will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps pursuing a range of investments in the country.

The operation will enable BRD Sogelease to provide funding on favourable terms to Romanian companies seeking business expansion, productivity improvements and sustainable development. Of the total loan, 15% is earmarked for green projects such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transport.

The goal is to facilitate financing for Romanian SMEs and Mid-Caps, which face greater hurdles in accessing long-term funding than their counterparts in many other European Union countries.

“In today’s rapidly changing economy, access to finance is a key enabler of competitiveness,” said EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “By partnering with BRD Sogelease, we are mobilising investment where it matters most: among Romanian entrepreneurs. This financing will help businesses become more resilient, more innovative and better prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

Around 80% of the EIB loan is projected to be deployed in less-developed areas known in the EU as “cohesion regions”, contributing to economic and social gains across Romania. The credit provides long-term funding in euros or Romanian lei at favourable conditions compared with alternatives in the market.

“Our long-standing partnership with the European Investment Bank reflects a shared commitment to supporting the growth and resilience of the Romanian economy. This new financing facility will enable us to provide SMEs and Mid-Caps with enhanced access to long-term funding on attractive terms, helping them invest in expansion, innovation, productivity and sustainable development” said BRD Sogelease General Manager Gabriel Mihai. “The cooperation with the EIB strengthens our ability to support businesses across Romania, particularly in cohesion regions where access to financing remains essential for unlocking economic potential. At BRD Sogelease, we remain firmly committed to empowering local entrepreneurs and companies with the financial solutions they need to grow, adapt and contribute to the country’s long-term prosperity, this being a key component of BRD Group’s financial solutions offer in Romania”.

The new operation builds on previous EIB loans to BRD Sogelease IFN that total €305 million over the past decade. During this period, the EIB has also offered advisory support on green investments to BRD Sogelease IFN and its clients.

Background information  

EIB Group

The European Investment Bank (ElB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion of new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investment union. Beyond long-term loans for large infrastructure, the EIB Group crowds in private investment for high-risk innovative projects and businesses, with a growing role in Europe’s markets for venture debt, venture capital, guarantees and securitisations.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is the subsidiary of the EIB Group specialised in providing guarantees, securitisation and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses and startups across Europe. Acting as an anchor investor, through its extensive network of partnering banks and investment funds, the EIF mobilises private investment and nurtures the ecosystem of venture capital funds to support innovative European entrepreneurs.

With the support of all 27 EU governments, the EIF has joined forces with institutional investors in a pan-European alliance to mobilise up to €80 billion for investment into innovative companies scaling up to become global leaders. The joint effort will expand the size and scope of the highly successful European Tech Champions Initiative, which has helped create 15 European mega-funds and scale 45 companies, including 12 unicorns, since being established three years ago.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

BRD Sogelease IFN SA

BRD Sogelease IFN SA is the leasing subsidiary of BRD Groupe Société Générale, one of the leading banks in Romania with total assets of 96.3 billion Romanian lei as of June 2026.   
Established in 2001, BRD Sogelease IFN provides financial lease and other asset based financial solutions to over 10,000 SME and Small-Cap clients in Romania.