U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Gazelle Finance Launch Facility to Support Ukrainian Companies Displaced by War

FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank supports Gazelle Finance in launching its new Bridge Technical Assistance Facility to support Ukrainian companies. Gazelle Finance’s home investment countries – Georgia and Armenia – are experiencing unprecedented inflows of economic migrants from Ukraine, Belorussia, and Russia as a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. FMO funds a “Bridge” TA facility to identify SMEs relocating from Ukraine to Georgia and provides them with (i) expatriation and relocation services (ii) technical assistance in the form of fund-wide support projects, zero interest loans and grants to maintain business continuity and enable knowledge transfer.

Gazelle Finance invested $500,000 in Fruit Logistics, which is 100% owned by Nino Kapanadze. The use of proceeds was used to build out new cold storage and warehouse facilities and to provide working capital financing to enable the company to handle over 100,000 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables per year. In addition, with the support of USAID Georgia, Gazelle Finance will provide technical assistance to support the company’s transition to near 100% on-grid generated renewable energy with the installation of 130.9 KW of roof installed solar panels, which will generate $30,000-40,000 in energy savings per year.

Gazelle Finance has successfully exited from Prime Concrete LLC, a leading EPC contractor in Georgia, which was its first equity investment in Georgia. Prime Concrete is a wholly locally owned Georgian EPC contractor that has served as the general contractor on road, wastewater treatment, and other civil construction and infrastructure projects throughout Georgia. In addition, Prime Concrete has developed a specialty in marine construction projects, such as ports, which are critical to the development and advancement of Georgia’s distribution and logistics infrastructure.