Loan will finance extension of Omnia factory for new waxy starch products
By Vanora Bennett
Banca Transilvania (BT) is lending €40 million(US$41.9million) to Omnia Europe SA (Omnia Romania), a leading corn starch producer and owner of the largest starch factory in Romania and southeastern Europe. Half the loan amount, €20 million, will be guaranteed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), under the Risk-Sharing Facility (RSF) with Banca Transilvania.
The financing will support the company in expanding its operations by establishing a new unit dedicated to producing waxy starch.
Omnia Europe SA, based in Medgidia, Constanta County, is a producer of starch, maltodextrin and by-products, key ingredients for many products in the food, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper and chemical industries. It is a subsidiary of Omnia Nisasta Ticaret AS and part of the Turkish Tosmur Group, one of the largest producers of corn starch and derivatives products.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is using its Risk Sharing Framework (RSF) to support the expansion of businesses in its countries of operations and boost the lending capacity of local partner banks.
“We are delighted to reinforce our commitment to the Romanian agribusiness sector by supporting the expansion of Omnia Group within the country. This transaction highlights the strong collaboration with Banca Transilvania and underscores the effectiveness of the Risk Sharing Framework in facilitating the growth ambitions of companies across EBRD’s Countries of Operations. Furthermore, this initiative is particularly significant as it focuses on processing agricultural commodities into higher-value products, contributing to Romania’s efforts to improve its food and agricultural trade balance” said EBRD’s Head of Romania Victoria Zinchuk.
The EBRD is a major institutional investor in Romania. To date it has invested almost €11.5 billion in 550 projects in the country.
