RLF - Preply (co-invest)

Overview
Project Summary Document
Environmental and Social Documentation
Procurement
Complaints

Overview

The project entails provision of a convertible loan to Preply Inc. through Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV Co-Investment I, L.P. Proceeds of the convertible loan will be used to finance AI self-learning and AI assessment and progress tools.

Original investment, as well as the first follow-on investment in February 2024 financed acquisition of Preply Inc. shares through Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV Co-Investment I, L.P. Proceeds were used primarily for research and development activities of Preply in Ukraine, while a portion of proceeds will finance acquisition of shares from existing shareholders.

Project ID 54896

Status Signed

Location

Ukraine

Business Sector

Notice Type

Private

Project timeline

Exploratory
Passed Concept Review
Passed Structure Review
Passed Final Review
Board Approved
Signed
Implementing
Completed

Company Contact Information

nullhttps://preply.com/

Project ID 54896

Status Signed

Location

Ukraine

Business Sector

Notice Type

Private

Environmental Category

Approval Date

16 Jan 2024

Disclosure date

02 Oct 2023

As permitted by paragraph 2.6 of Section III of the Access to Information Policy, disclosure of this PSD was deferred in accordance with paragraph 1.4.4 of the Directive on Access to Information.

As per section 1.4.2 (iii) of the Directive on Access to Information: "For Projects approved by Bank management where the Board of Directors has delegated the approval authority, the PSD shall be disclosed at the start of the relevant no-objection notification period to a member country of the Bank in accordance with Article 13 (iii) of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD."

RLF - Preply (co-invest) (Ukrainian) (PDF, 0.43MB)

Project Description

Project Objectives

The main objective of the Project is to support further growth by funding ongoing research and development activities in Ukraine.

Transition Impact

ETI score: 70

The project will directly contribute to the Resilience of financial markets by increasing private equity penetration in Ukraine during the challenging fundraising environment and to the Inclusive transition quality by supporting a business affected by the war in Ukraine.

Client Information

HCGF IV CO-INVESTMENT I LP

Preply Inc. is one of the leading education technology companies specialising in online language learning marketplaces, with primary development activities in Ukraine.

HCGF IV Co-Investment I, L.P. is a special purpose limited partnership established and managed by Horizon Capital in Delaware, USA for the sole purpose of acquiring and owning shares of Preply Inc.

EBRD Finance Summary

Additionality

The investment offers a combination of (i) a crisis response, given that EBRD financing effectively bridges a financing gap due to adverse market conditions, (ii) resource mobilisation given lack of adequate local private equity market, and (iii) gender additionality on the back of the Client's commitment to implement gender-responsive workplace practices.

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

N/A

Company Contact Information

nullhttps://preply.com/

PSD Last Updated

01 Apr 2025

Understanding transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”. The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

Integrity and compliance

The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank's activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

Environmental and Social Documentation is not available for this project.

Selected procurement notices related to this project may be shown below. Further procurement opportunities related to this and other projects, if available, maybe be viewed in the EBRD Procurement Portal.

The EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), Access to Information policy (AIP) and Project Accountability Policy (PAP) enable sound and sustainable development in its projects. The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) deals with complaints about environmental, social and disclosure matters related to the Bank’s investments.

No complaints about this project have been made so far.

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RLF - Preply (co-invest)

Overview

Project timeline

Company Contact Information

Project Description

Project Objectives

Transition Impact

Client Information

EBRD Finance Summary

Additionality

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

Company Contact Information

PSD Last Updated

Understanding transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

Integrity and compliance

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

RLF - Preply (co-invest)

Overview

Company Contact Information

Project Description

Project Objectives

Transition Impact

Client Information

EBRD Finance Summary

Additionality

Environmental and Social Summary

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

Company Contact Information

PSD Last Updated

Understanding transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

Integrity and compliance

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)