EIF invests €30 million in the sustainable AgriFood fund launched by Impact Bridge, which counts also with the support of CDTI Innovación, CaixaBank, and Tikehau Capital

• The new private equity impact fund is designed to support Spanish AgriFood SMEs in their growth and transition towards a more sustainable model.
• ‘IB Sustainable AgriFood Fund I Innvierte’ has already secured commitments exceeding €130 million and stands as the largest private equity fund in Spain dedicated to investments across the entire AgriFood value chain.
• CDTI Innovación, EIF, and CaixaBank are the fund’s anchor investors, which also has the support of Tikehau Capital and a range of industrial investors, foundations, and family offices.

Madrid, 18 February 2025: The European Investment Fund (EIF) – part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group - has invested €30 million in ‘Impact Bridge Sustainable AgriFood Fund I Innvierte, FCR’ (‘IB SAF I’), a private equity fund with a target size of €150 million aimed at promoting a more sustainable AgriFood model in Spain.

As the largest private equity fund in Spain specializing in the AgriFood sector, ‘IB SAF I’ invests in SMEs to drive their growth, enhance their competitiveness, and generate positive social and environmental impact. The fund focuses on supporting rural development, fostering the inclusion of vulnerable groups, adapting to climate change, and preserving biodiversity (50% of the fund’s carried interest is tied to achieving impact targets).

The fund is backed by institutions committed to implementing best-in-class sustainable and technologically advanced practices in the Spanish AgriFood industry. The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación, CDTI Innovación) is investing €73.5 million through its Innvierte Economía Sostenible program, supporting the funding of technology-driven and innovative businesses. The European Investment Fund (EIF) has committed €30 million to foster the development of sustainable AgriFood systems. CaixaBank is investing €10 million to further its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the sector. Tikehau Capital has committed €5 million to promote regenerative agriculture practices. Additionally, the fund has received support from key sector institutions such as the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation and industrial family groups specialized in AgriFood, including Blanca Hernández, Dadelos, and Iberhanse, among others.

The fund is managed by Carlos de Abajo and Fernando Sanz-Pastor, who bring complementary expertise. Carlos has extensive experience in fund management and M&A at institutions such as Impact Bridge, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley, while Fernando has a strong track record in private equity investments in the AgriFood sector through his tenure at Alantra.

‘IB SAF I’ will invest in 10-12 Spanish companies operating across the AgriFood value chain and adjacent industries, with EBITDA ranging from €1 million to €5 million. The fund will offer tailored capital solutions designed to help these businesses scale and become leading platforms in their respective specialties.

“Spanish AgriFood companies are a benchmark in Europe and globally. We see a clear opportunity to identify and support the best AgriFood SMEs in Spain, fostering their growth and accelerating the adoption of best-in-class sustainability practices. Our sector expertise, combined with our sophisticated impact tools, will be key in driving the success of our portfolio companies,” said Fernando Sanz-Pastor.

José Moisés Martín, General Director of CDTI Innovación, commented: “Supporting investment ecosystems specialized in technology, where social and environmental impact plays a crucial role, is a priority for CDTI Innovación. Being able to support this fund, which operates in a sector that has historically seen little presence of specialized investors and where modernization driven by technology and sustainability is paving the way forward, represents an opportunity to demonstrate the additionality that our role as an anchor investor can bring in attracting private commitments. Our presence has enabled the fund managers to approach the fundraising process with greater confidence.”

Marco Marrone, Chief Investment Officer at EIF, stated: “This is EIF’s first investment in a Spanish fund specializing in the AgriFood sector. Supporting this industry has become one of the European Investment Bank Group’s strategic priorities due to its key role in building a more sustainable future and the opportunities that innovation can bring to it. We are pleased to partner with Impact Bridge in advancing Spanish AgriFood SMEs that are committed to sustainability and innovation.”

Jaime Campos, Director of AgroBank at CaixaBank, added: “We are committed to providing financial support to the AgriFood sector, a key pillar of the economy, by facilitating access to capital through innovative investment models such as this fund. By offering solutions that help SMEs and companies drive their development and transformation projects, we reinforce our position in the AgriFood sector while aligning with our strategic goal of supporting the business community’s transition toward a more sustainable economy.”

David Martín, Head of the Private Equity Strategy for Regenerative Agriculture at Tikehau Capital, said: “Regenerative agriculture is essential to ensuring the long-term resilience of our food systems, but its development requires a coordinated effort across the entire value chain. This sustainable AgriFood fund represents a key step in this direction, channeling capital into SMEs that drive growth, enhance competitiveness, and create positive social and environmental impact. By supporting rural communities, promoting inclusion, and advancing solutions for climate adaptation and biodiversity preservation, this initiative aligns with our investment philosophy at Tikehau Capital: leveraging financial capital as a catalyst for large-scale systemic change.”

Background information

About the European Investment Fund (EIF)

The EIF is part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group. Its primary mission is to support European microenterprises and SMEs by improving their access to financing. The EIF designs and develops venture capital, growth capital, guarantee, and microfinance instruments tailored to this market segment. Through its activities, the EIF contributes to key EU policy objectives such as competitiveness and growth, innovation and digitalization, social impact, skills and human capital, climate action, and environmental sustainability.

About Impact Bridge Asset Management

Impact Bridge is a Spanish investment management firm with over €300 million in assets under management, specializing in high-quality impact investing. The firm focuses on projects that generate authentic, intentional, and measurable impact. Founded in 2018, its team is composed of professionals with extensive experience in leading asset management firms, sustainable and impact investing, and academia. Its investor base includes private institutional investors such as pension funds, foundations, and family offices, as well as public institutions such as the European Investment Fund, CDTI, COFIDES, and Axis (ICO).

About CDTI Innovación

CDTI Innovación is the Spanish Agency under the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities dedicated to fostering knowledge-based innovation. The entity provides public funding for innovation through grants and partially reimbursable aid, while also managing public procurement of R&D projects.

Through the Innvierte Economía Sostenible initiative, CDTI Innovación supports and facilitates the capitalization of technology-driven companies. To date, it has committed €1,795 million across 42 investment vehicles, funding over 271 companies, while also directly co-investing €522 million in 160 businesses.

CDTI Innovación also supports the internationalization of R&D and innovation projects led by Spanish companies and entities. Additionally, it manages the participation of Spanish companies in international R&D organizations, such as Horizon Europe and Eureka, as well as in the Science and Space industries.

CDTI, E.P.E. is a public entity under the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.

About CaixaBank

CaixaBank has a long-standing commitment to the social impact of its activities, with a responsibility to foster a positive economy that enhances people's well-being.

CaixaBank has just launched its new three-year Sustainability Plan, which is part of the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. Through this initiative, the bank will mobilize €100 billion in sustainable finance to drive progress toward a more sustainable economy and support economic and social development. This includes financing renewable energy projects, clean mobility, and energy-efficient buildings, as well as providing solutions that accelerate the sustainable transition for businesses and families. Additionally, the plan aims to promote financial inclusion, support education and employment, and address the challenges posed by increasing life expectancy.

About Tikehau Capital

Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management firm with €47.1 billion in assets under management (as of September 30, 2024). Tikehau Capital has built extensive expertise across four asset classes (private debt, real assets, private equity, and capital markets strategies), as well as multi-asset and special opportunities strategies. Tikehau Capital is a founder-led team with a differentiated business model, a strong balance sheet, a proprietary deal flow on a global scale, and a track record of supporting top-tier businesses and executives. Deeply rooted in the real economy, Tikehau Capital provides bespoke and innovative alternative financing solutions to companies it invests in and seeks to create long-term value for its investors, while generating positive impacts on society.

Leveraging its solid capital base (€3.1 billion in shareholders' equity as of June 30, 2024), the Group invests its own capital alongside its investor-clients across all its strategies. Controlled by its management team along with leading institutional partners, the firm is guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a shared DNA among its 767 employees (as of September 30, 2024) across its 17 offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. Tikehau Capital is listed in compartment A of the regulated Euronext Paris market (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP). For more information, please visit: www.tikehaucapital.com.

Press contacts:

EIF

Maite Cordero, m.corderomunoz@eib.org, tel. +34 606 66 82 62

Website: www.eif.org – Press Office: +352 4379 21000 – press@eib.org

X: @eif_eu   

Impact Bridge

Silvia Gimeno, sgimeno@quum.com, +34 616 692 807

Itziar Merino, imerino@quum.com, +34 638 28 50 49