Unicredit and SACE drive industrial growth in Southern Italy with a €45 million structured financing in support of Manucor
Southern Italy reaffirms its position as a hub of industrial innovation and a magnet for both Italian and foreign investment. UniCredit strengthens its commitment to supporting companies that choose to invest in the South by structuring a new financial deal to promote industrial development in Campania. The financing, worth up to €45 million, is intended for Manucor S.p.A., the Italian subsidiary of Bulgarian group Plastchim-T and one of the leading European manufacturers of BOPP films for food packaging.
The deal – implemented in synergy between UniCredit Italy (lead bank) and UniCredit Bulbank, and backed by a SACE guarantee – forms part of a broader €66 million investment plan for 2025–26 aimed at expanding the production site in Sessa Aurunca, in the province of Caserta. Letters of credit amounting to €21.7 million are also included, to facilitate the import of next-generation industrial equipment. Project completion is expected by 2027.
Through this operation, UniCredit consolidates its role as a pan-European banking partner capable of supporting international industrial groups with high-tech, high-impact projects. The financing is structured on a work-progress basis, with a 10-year repayment term and a two-year grace period.
The project, supported by UniCredit, involves the construction of a cutting-edge production facility, including a new metallizer and photovoltaic system. The initiative is part of a broader ten-year €98 million plan to enhance the technological and commercial capabilities of the Sessa Aurunca plant, confirming its role as an advanced European hub in the packaging sector.
The transaction serves as a model case for the activation of UniCredit’s international banking network across 13 European countries to support strategic investment in high-potential industrial regions. In this instance, it channels foreign capital into Campania, generating significant positive impacts on skilled employment, supply chain development, and the energy transition of local industries. For UniCredit, this confirms the effectiveness of a strategy focused on structured credit, public guarantees, and international cooperation, all aligned with the sustainable growth of communities and businesses.
“This is a standout example of foreign investment that enhances the skills and infrastructure of Southern Italy,” said Ferdinando Natali, Regional Manager South at UniCredit. “This deal demonstrates how a strong industrial vision, supported by structured financing and local expertise, can make the region attractive to international capital, generating both jobs and innovation. The coordinated involvement of UniCredit’s Italian and Bulgarian teams further proves the Group’s ability to attract productive capital to the South, creating value for the region and new opportunities for local development.”
“This transaction demonstrates the effectiveness of cross-border collaboration within the UniCredit Group in supporting medium- and long-term industrial investments, as well as the strong commitment UniCredit Bulbank has to enable the growth of the Bulgarian corporates, also with their expansion abroad.” stated Borislav Bangeev, Head of Corporates at UniCredit Bulbank. “Southern Italy continues to position itself as an attractive destination for international productive capital, with a clear industrial strategy aligned with local needs”.
“With this transaction, SACE confirms its role as a growth accelerator for Italian companies, supporting strategic investments in the country that are crucial for development and sustainability” stated Gianluca Amero, Southern Regional Director at SACE. “Thanks to the collaboration with UniCredit, we were able to support Manucor in an important production expansion project involving the construction of a new facility equipped with green solutions. This is a concrete example of how our guarantee helps make sustainable and high-impact investments more accessible, with particular attention to the strategic supply chains of Southern Italy.”
“It is our mission to exercise the freedom to continuously evolve and to apply most advanced technologies and know-how. After successful integration of 5 modern production and logistic centers in Bulgaria, Italy and Ukraine with a total production capacity of 220 000 tons, in January 2025 we launched our bold We GROW 2030 Strategic Framework. Plastchim-T GROUP has collaborated with our long-term partner and world machine builder – Brückner Maschinenbau, to create a new state-of-the-art 8,7 m wide 5-layer high-speed BOPP Line with total annual capacity of 50 000 tons. The investment is in line with our ambition to grow faster product portfolio especially in the area of specialty film. It is a clear demonstration of our character and strength to fully utilize the potential of Manucor talented pool of people by creating one of the biggest manufacturing and logistics folio hubs in Europe. Unicredit has been providing a pivotal strategic support along our Growth Journey in establishing Plastchim-T GROUP footprint in Italy” commented Beyan Faik, CEO Plastchim-T GROUP Member of Plastchim-T GROUP Supervisory Board.