Swedbank, OP Corporate Bank lend €140M to Akola Group's Linas Agro

What's the deal? SwedbankDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and OP Corporate BankDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → have provided a €140 million loan to Linas Agro, a company owned by agriculture and food producer Akola GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Swedbank's share is €90 million and OP Corporate Bank's Lithuanian branch is providing €50 million — the same split as last year.

Where's the money going? Working capital. The funds will help the company buy up the coming grain harvest, pay farmers on time, and keep its supply chain running.

Why now? The financing lands ahead of a new grain season. "The new financing agreement allows us to confidently meet the new grain season," said chief executive officer Jonas Bakšys, adding that a solid financial base lets the company support farmers preparing for the next sowing.

Market backdrop: Early forecasts point to a smaller EU grain harvest this year — about 136 million tonnes, down from over 145 million tonnes a year earlier. In Lithuania, the company expects a harvest no worse than last year's, ranging between 7.5 million and 8 million tonnes, with wheat making up the largest share at more than 5 million tonnes.

The signal: At €140 million, this ranks among the largest debt deals in Lithuania's food sector. It underscores how seasonal agri-financing remains central to the region's food supply chain, even as EU output tightens.

Read more: LRT