Our investment
Description of the investment.
Description of the investment.
We committed £30 million of support to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Trade Facilitation Programme in Ukraine, to support trade flows of critical goods. Our main focus is to support Ukrainian trade finance needs in this current time of crisis.
Impact information
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
What?
| Impact |
|---|
Ukrainians desperately need to keep their economy running to provide vital goods and services to its population. Maintaining access to international trade is a vital part of this. |
|
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How?
| Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|
|
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Who?
| Stakeholder | Geography | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Firm owners, employees and suppliers |
Ukraine |
In 2022, Ukraine’s GDP dropped by nearly 30% and by April 2024, the economy was 5% smaller than at the onset of the war in 2021.Growth returned in 2023, but given prior growth projections, the economy is 11% smaller than would have been the case |
| Customers |
Ukraine |
In 2022, the World Bank reported that an additional 7.1m people lived under the $6.85/day poverty line, an increase from 5.5% pre-war to 24.2% |
How much?
| Scale | Depth/Duration |
|---|---|
|
The total size of the facility will be £60m with BII contributing £30m. We can expect the facility to enable £30m trade volume per year, with a potential increase over time |
|
Contribution/additionality
| Contribution/additionality |
|---|
|
Financial: Capital is not offered in sufficient volume and our unfunded MRPA is counter-cyclical to support imports. |
Risk
Execution RiskThe ongoing conflict and other factors e.g., high levels of Oil & Gas flows which we exclude, and partner and obligor banks risks, could lead to lower churn of the facility. Alignment RiskThe types of underlying products in trades facilitated by this facility may not be aligned with BII’s impact aims and/or at worst be used to conduct war-related activities. Hence, Oil and Gas is excluded, and BII’s priority goods and exclusion lists will be shared. We will also monitor each individual trade post attachment. Drop-Off RiskIt’s unlikely impact will endure beyond the lifetime of the facility but we could play a role in mobilizing commercial MRPA providers in the medium-term. |
Environmental and social information
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Environmental and social summary
A high-level description of the environmental and social aspects of the investment. This may include a summary of key environmental and social risks identified during environmental and social due diligence (ESDD); key elements of an environmental and social action plan (ESAP); or ways in which we plan to support the investee improve environmental and social standards, such as through their environmental and social management system (ESMS); as well as any other priority areas agreed with the investee.
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Environmental and social risk
A risk category rating, which indicates the level of environmental and social risk associated with an investment. For an explanation of the categorisations used, see here. We consistently provide an environmental and social risk category for all investments screened from 2023 onwards.
Environmental and social summary
At the time of investment, BII and EBRD environmental and social requirements for trade and supply chain finance are harmonised. We will continue to monitor E&S aspects related to the trades under this facility.
Environmental and social risk
Medium-Low
Reporting and Complaints Mechanism
The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism allows anyone outside BII to report alleged breaches of the business integrity or environmental and social provisions of BII’s Policy on Responsible Investing. This includes breaches made by BII, a BII investee, or a portfolio company of a fund in which BII has invested. The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism Rules are available here. Reports and complaints can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by mail. See more details on our Reporting and Complaints Mechanism here.
For any other general enquiries contact us at [email protected]
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Key facts
- First published
:
When the investment was first published on the website database.
- March 2025
- Last updated
:
When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.
- June 2026
- Project number
:
An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.
- D6776
- Status
:
The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).
- Active
- Region
:
The geographical region where the country is located. We currently invest in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and the Caribbean. In 2023, BII’s investment mandate was extended allowing it to invest in regional funds linked to Ukraine, with the majority of activity expected to begin post-war. Investments outside these regions were made prior to 2012 under previous investment mandates.
- Rest of the World
- Country
:
The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.
- Ukraine
- Sector
:
We prioritise those sectors that facilitate development and need our capital the most. Our priority sectors contribute towards many of the Sustainable Development Goals. They range from investing in the power infrastructure that will provide people with better access to electricity, to investing in financial institutions that direct capital to the individuals and businesses that need it the most.
- Financial services
- Sub sector
:
The sub-sector that the investment is made into; this provides a more granular level of detail than the ‘sector’ information
- Consumer Finance
- Investment policy :
- Ukraine
- Investment type :
- Guarantee
- Start date :
- December 2024
- Amount :
- $37m
- Currency of investment :
- USD
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- United Kingdom
We provide capital in the following ways: directly – through direct equity, direct debt, guarantees and other non-intermediated financial instruments; and indirectly – principally through investment funds.
Type of investment portfolio that each investment is made under. Since 2014, we have run two investment portfolios: Catalyst and Growth. In addition, our Kinetic Portfolio enables us to manage concessional investment strategies.
For direct investments and fund investments, this is the date BII committed capital to the investments. This is typically the date on which legal agreements are signed by all parties.
For the portfolio companies of our fund investments, this is the date (either the month or the quarter) on which the fund committed capital to the portfolio company.
For direct equity investments, this is the date at which British International Investment exited the investment.
For debt investments, this is the date at which the final debt repayment was made.
For funds, this is the date at which the fund was terminated.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date at which the fund manager exited the investment.
The total amount committed, per financial instrument, per investment, on the date BII becomes subject to a binding legal obligation to provide funding or assume a contingent liability. This information is provided in US dollars.
For direct investments, this is the amount that BII has committed to the business or project. For fund investments, this is the amount BII has committed to the fund.
The currency in which the investment was made.
- First published
