Leonardo and the European Investment Bank (EIB) today signed a loan agreement for 300 million euro in Rome.
The loan is aimed at supporting the investment projects envisaged in the Group's Business Plan. The investments will focus on 4 specific areas of intervention related to the development of high-tech products in the helicopter sector, Cyber security, Advanced manufacturing (Industry 4.0) and in infrastructural interventions to increase production efficiency in the Central-South Italy plants.
"This funding is an important contribution to continue the development of ever more innovative products and technologies and will allow us to increase the efficiency of our plants, optimize production structures and be increasingly competitive in our sector. In line with the objectives of the Business Plan, these investments will enable us to support the Group's sustainable growth over the long term ", commented Alessandro Profumo, CEO.
The investments made by Leonardo fully meet the main EIB intervention criteria aimed at supporting Research and Development in innovative technologies that, through the requirements of greater lightness and lower consumption, allow the reduction of polluting emissions, support for investments in Italian regions located in Italy. in the Convergence area according to community parameters, and to the financing of Cyber security and Advanced Manufacturing activities.
This is the second operation carried out between the EIB and Leonardo; the first one, worth 500 millions of euros dating back to 2009, was aimed at the production and development of technologically innovative aeronautical components.