Carmistin The Food Company secures approx. EUR 500 million financing to accelerate investments in agriculture and food production

Carmistin The Food Company has secured financing of approximately EUR 500 million to continue its investment programme in agriculture and the food industry, through a partnership with leading financial institutions.

The company, a national leader in poultry meat production and animal feed, is strengthening its growth strategy through a broad investment plan focused on development and innovation, backed by a strong banking partnership. The financing provides the financial framework needed to support Carmistin’s expansion and long-term development plans.

The funding is structured as a syndicated loan, arranged jointly by BCR (mandated lead arranger, bookrunner, documentation agent), ING Bank N.V. Amsterdam (global coordinator and bookrunner), CEC Bank (mandated lead arranger), Intesa Sanpaolo Romania and UniCredit Bank (senior lead arrangers), Exim Bank and Raiffeisen Bank (arrangers), as well as PKO Bank Polski Bucharest branch and Garanti BBVA (lenders). Legal advisory for the banking syndicate was provided by Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP), while Clifford Chance acted as legal adviser to Carmistin.

The investments will support projects aimed at increasing feed and food production capacity, particularly in the pork sector, as well as diversifying the company’s food portfolio. Two major projects are at the core of the plan: a large-scale pork production facility and the development of new genetics and breeding facilities, adding to existing operations and ensuring an annual output of over 500,000 piglets. In parallel, the group plans to build a new food processing plant, primarily targeting exports and integrating Carmistin’s current production flows.

“Signing this syndicated loan represents more than a financial transaction; it is a confirmation of the direction Carmistin The Food Company is following and of the trust our partners place in a locally built business model, based on investment, responsibility, and long-term vision. This partnership gives us the stability needed to accelerate strategic projects in agriculture and food production, expand our capacities, and support our ambition to turn Romania into a relevant food supplier for Europe. I thank the representatives of the financial institutions involved for their trust and professionalism, as well as my colleagues at Carmistin,” said Justin Paraschiv, founder and chairman of Carmistin The Food Company.

“Coordinating the largest financing granted to a Romanian agribusiness is a landmark moment for BCR and for Romania’s agri-food sector. The syndicated loan extended to the Carmistin Group sends a clear signal of confidence in this sector’s ability to support large-scale investments with structural economic impact. Carmistin is a solid example of execution and long-term vision, built on a vertically integrated business model that increases the value added of products made and exported by Romania. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Carmistin in this new stage of expansion and we thank all the banks in the syndicate for their collaboration and professionalism throughout the transaction. For BCR, financing the food industry is a strategic priority, and our role is to support Romanian agribusiness companies with expertise, capital, and agility in delivering complex projects,” said Ana-Maria Samuilă, head of agribusiness and food at BCR.

“The relationship between ING and Carmistin has developed rapidly in recent years, based on mutual trust and close collaboration. We are very proud to have coordinated an extremely complex transaction, together with experienced partners, legal teams, and local and international banks. This confirms ING’s commitment to supporting ambitious Romanian companies that drive sustainable development and economic consolidation. We are confident in Carmistin’s ability to create real long-term value, both for Romania and for the European market,” said Raluca Țintoiu, deputy CEO and head of wholesale banking at ING Bank Romania.

“The Carmistin Group has invested consistently in recent years and has become one of the leading players in Romania’s agribusiness and meat processing market, with the potential to soon rank among the major regional players. Throughout this period of growth and expansion, CEC Bank has remained close, participating in the banking consortia that supported the group. With this new financing, we once again demonstrate our continued support for the performance of Romanian agricultural entrepreneurs,” said Adrian Mușat, director for large corporate clients at CEC Bank.

“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the banking syndicate in one of the largest local financings in recent years, a landmark transaction not only in terms of value but also in its high level of complexity. This financing reflects the solid partnership between banks and local companies with long-term vision, both sides being actively committed to developing the food industry, a sector of strategic importance for Romania. We are grateful to the banking syndicate for their trust and thank them for the excellent collaboration,” said Valentin Voinescu, partner at NNDKP.