Photo: EIB

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 2. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is providing a €60 million guarantee to asset manager Sienna IM, aimed at increasing financing for biodiversity projects across Europe, Trend reports via the EIB.

The guarantee is being provided by the European Investment Fund (EIF) under the InvestEU Sustainability Guarantee, covering up to 70% of the credit risk for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The support will allow the Sienna Biodiversity Private Credit Fund to extend new financing to companies and projects dedicated to restoring and protecting Europe’s biodiversity, which is increasingly threatened by pollution, overfarming, climate change, resource depletion, and invasive species. The fund incorporates impact clauses to clearly measure outcomes and attract additional private capital.

The Article 9 SFDR fund targets a total size of €200 million, having already received a €100 million initial commitment from France-based Malakoff Humanis Group. Over the next 36 months, the fund will finance projects that enhance natural capital or significantly reduce environmental footprints, particularly supporting earlier-stage projects and those with limited collateral.

Sienna IM will apply rigorous credit policies and technology-driven due diligence to ensure each investment meets high environmental and financial standards.

The EIB Group’s financing for agriculture and the bioeconomy rose to €7.7 billion in 2025, up 22% from the previous year, highlighting growing European investment in sustainable and climate-related initiatives.