Project Description
This project was approved as part of the Bank's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To avoid delays to the delivery of this project, the Bank's President granted a deviation from the ordinary timelines for PSD disclosure, as contemplated by Section V of the Directive on Access to Information. Details of the Bank's response to COVID-19, and this deviation, can be found on our website.
Provision of a senior unsecured loan to Hipotekarna Banka AD Podgorica ("HB") of up to EUR 5 million under the Bank's Resilience Framework ("RF").
Project Objectives
The proceeds of the Bank's investment will be used for on-lending to eligible sub-borrowers in accordance with the Policy Statement.
Transition Impact
ETI score: 70
ETI score: 70.
Resilient (Primary Quality) - The transaction will support the economic recovery in Montenegro and its response to external shocks. It will contribute to the resilience of HB by enabling it to continue sustainable lending operations to eligible sub-borrowers despite balance sheet pressures triggered by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Competitive (Secondary Quality) - EBRD's financing will support HB's efforts to keep providing financing to Montenegrin SMEs and corporates that are the key operational priorities of HB. It's corporate book is oriented to tourism and services which are the most affected by the crisis.
Client Information
HIPOTEKARNA BANKA AD PODGORICA
Hipotekarna Banka AD Podgorica is the 5th largest private bank in Montenegro in terms of assets with a balance sheet of EUR 517.5 million and a market share of 11.5%. It is a universal bank with business lines split 60/40% between corporate and retail. It is owned by group of individual investors (52%), group of legal entities (25.3%), Generali Insurance Group (16.9%) and free float. HB is a listed bank on Montenegro Stock Exchange.
EBRD Finance Summary
EUR 5,000,000.00
Total Project Cost
EUR 5,000,000.00
Additionality
COVID-19 crisis response allowing HB to answer the liquidity needs of its SME and corporate clients that are experiencing a decrease in activity, turnover and profitability leading to payment delays and liquidity issues for the whole economy.
Environmental and Social Summary
Categorised FI (ESP 2019). HB will be required to comply with PRs 2, 4 & 9 and further implement and comply with the relevant EBRD's Environmental & Social (E&S) Procedures. Beneficiaries financed through the Facility will be required to comply with national requirements for environment, health and safety and labour standards. The Client will be required to submit annual environmental and social reports to EBRD, as a part of performance monitoring.
Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing
None.
Company Contact Information
Gojko Maksimovic
gojko.maksimovic@hb.co.me
+382 (0) 77 700 199
https://www.hipotekarnabanka.com/
81000 Podgorica,
Josipa Broza Tita 67
Montenegro
PSD last updated
10 Jul 2020
Understanding Transition
Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.
Business opportunities
For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.
For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com
For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com
General enquiries
Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.
Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)
The ESP and the associated Performance Requirements (PRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”. The ESP and the PRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation as well as to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about environmental and social performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD additionally requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts arising from projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.
More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.
Integrity and Compliance
The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all activities of the Bank in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The Bank believes that identifying and resolving issues at the project assessment approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts, and also helps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.
OCCO is also responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, both within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. All matters reported will be handled by OCCO for follow-up. All reports, including anonymous ones, will be reviewed. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.
Access to Information Policy (AIP)
The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.
Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.
Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)
If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).
IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.
Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.
