(Alliance News) - Bank of Georgia Group PLC on Thursday said it signed a GEL100 million, about GBP27.0 million, loan agreement with the World Bank's private sector lender International Finance Corp.
The financing, which has a five-year maturity, is to "support the local currency needs" of small and medium sized companies in Georgia. It also will "increase" Bank of Georgia's support for female-led companies.
The FTSE 250 firm said 25% of the loan is "dedicated to serve female entrepreneurs".
Bank of Georgia added: "IFC will raise the local currency funds through a private placement of Georgian lari-denominated bonds to be arranged by Galt & Taggart - a wholly owned brokerage subsidiary of the group."
Chief Financial Officer Sulkhan Gvalia added: "I am very pleased that Bank of Georgia and IFC continue working on attractive local currency facilities, aimed at boosting our capacity to offer GEL-denominated funds to the micro, small and medium sized business segment and increase our support to the female-led enterprises. This is our second successful local currency deal equipped with the women entrepreneurs opportunity facility."
IFC, based in Washington DC, is a subsidiary of World Bank Group, an economic development bank which issues loans to developing countries.
Bank of Georgia shares were 1.9% higher at 1,586.00 pence each in London on Thursday morning.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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Bank Of Georgia Group (BGEO)