• UniCredit CEE Lounge in ELITE boosts growth of companies from Central and Eastern Europe
• Creates support network for ambitious SMEs in UniCredit CEE network
• Uralplastic-N is among seven newly selected companies for UniCredit CEE Lounge

UniCredit is pleased to announce that Uralplastic-N is among seven small and medium enterprises that have been selected for the second intake of the UniCredit CEE Lounge, an innovative initiative that enables ambitious private companies to accelerate their growth.

"Uralplastic-N has already achieved a leading position in its market segment in Russia thanks to the quality of its products and focus on implementation of cutting-edge technologies in the polymer processing industry,”  said the member of the Supervisory Board of JSC "Uralplastik-N" Alexey Goncharov,  “We are going to move forward actively. Participation in the ELITE program will help us to strengthen our position in the international market, enhance professional skills of managerial personnel, as well as get support of leading advisers and expand network of contacts that will certainly contribute to the development of our company "

The UniCredit CEE Lounge, part of the London Stock Exchange Group’s successful ELITE program, was launched in December when the first 14 companies were selected to participate. Those companies are now beginning their third of eight executive training and coaching modules

Following these promising results, UniCredit in partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group will soon onboard the second round of clients in the Elite UniCredit CEE Lounge. Uralplastic-N and all other participating companies come from UniCredit’s network across Central and Eastern Europe.

While these clients receive great value from ELITE, UniCredit’s participation in the initiative helps it improve its services to clients.

“We are excited that we can advise these clients in an innovative way through the ELITE program. It is a unique opportunity for us to learn more about their needs and strategies while they can get to know us better and see all of our strengths, completely changing our relationship with them,” said Enrico Minniti, UniCredit’s Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for Central and Eastern Europe. “Our ambition is to transform our mindset from one that is pure sales-oriented to one that is focused on creating value. We are achieving this by putting clients in the center of our activities, and ELITE helps take us in this direction. We provide Europe’s most ambitious mid-sized companies visibility and introduce them to the broader financial instruments, key players and investors that can help them. We believe that this enables them to make the right strategic decisions that grow their businesses. By leveraging companies’ ambitions with UniCredit’s leading role in Europe, we are working to create a valuable bond with our clients.”

Since its launch in 2012, ELITE has supported over 320 companies from across Europe. It now has 150 advisors and 90 investors in its growing community.

The ELITE environment helps ensure rapidly growing companies are more aware of the various funding options available to them and prepares them to face investors. It also brings growing businesses together, giving them the opportunity to inspire each other, exchange ideas, share best practices and identify mutual business opportunities.

ELITE services are designed to meet the individual needs of each SME selected for the UniCredit CEE Lounge, with the Group contributing to training modules and tutoring, as well as providing access to its own tailored support services.

About Uralplastic-N

Uralplastic-N – one of the leading companies in Russian market of flexible polymeric packaging products. The company manufactures packaging products for food, non-food, and industrial packaging products including detergent packaging products, diaper bags, surface protection films, moist tissue packaging products, and packaging for feminine protection and tissue papers. Its industrial packaging products comprise packaging for polymeric ampoules and explosives, polyamide monos, standard films, and films from non-oriented polyamides. The company also provides foam materials.