OREANDA-NEWS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending USD 30 million to Nyva Pereyaslavschyny (Nyva), one of the largest Ukrainian pork producers, which will use the proceeds to expand its pig breeding operations and improve their efficiency and biosafety. The Loan Agreement was signed on June, 19 in Kyiv. Dragon Capital, Ukraine's leading investment bank, acted as sole financial advisor to Nyva on the transaction.

The EBRD loan will support the construction of two state-of-the-art farms with projected annual output of more than 35,000 pigs each. Nyva will continue to deepen its vertical integration, increasing the share of pork processed internally through the expansion of its meat-processing facility and own distribution network. The project will also facilitate the creation of new jobs in the region and increase environmental, health and safety standards at Group sites.

"We are happy that international financial institutions such as the EBRD continue their investment activities in Ukraine, which is undoubtedly a positive sign for the capital markets. This deal proves that high-quality private companies in Ukraine are moving back into the spotlight of foreign investors and are capable of raising long-term financing on very competitive terms," said Mykhailo Granchak, Director of Investment Banking, Dragon Capital. "We believe that new funding will help Nyva to strengthen its position on the market and continue to promote the highest standards of food quality in our country."

Nyva is one of the largest pork producers in Ukraine, operating six pig farms in the Kyiv region. The company boasts full vertical integration from grain production and pig breeding to meat processing and retail sales. The company follows rigorous standards of biological safety and promotes international farming techniques.

The EBRD is the largest investor in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and central Asia. It is owned by 64 countries and two intergovernmental institutions. ERBD invests mainly in private enterprises, usually together with commercial partners. It provides project financing for banks, industries and businesses. It also works with publicly owned companies, to support privatisation, restructuring state-owned firms and improvement of municipal services.