After sales amounted to €3.9 billion in 2019, the Dürr Group expects sales for 2023 to reach €4.5 to 4.8 billion, with a further 5% to 10% increase in sales anticipated for 2024. Against this background, the loan expansion increases the financial scope. The cash credit line (€750 million) is intended for general corporate financing and is currently completely unutilized. The guarantee line (€500 million) is used to cover the company’s usual obligations from the mechanical and plant engineering business to third parties. These include, for example, guarantees provided by the Group for prepayments received from customers.
Dietmar Heinrich, CFO of Dürr AG, stated: “By successfully expanding the loan volume, we are adapting our financing to the increased business volume and to our future growth. The agreement that has now been reached contributes significantly to long-term financing security and strengthens our reputation as a reliable and solid partner for our customers. This provides the basis for us to focus fully on our operating business.”
The conditions for the increased syndicated loan are based on the current interest rate level and the ratio of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to net financial debt. The loan agreement also contains a sustainability component: If the Dürr Group reaches a defined target corridor for the reduction of its CO2 emissions, the interest rate decreases; if it falls below the target corridor, the interest rate increases. The deciding factor here is the CO2 emissions in Scopes 1, 2, and 3 of the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Scope 1 comprises the emissions released directly within the company, Scope 2 refers to the emissions from energy suppliers, and Scope 3 covers the emissions in the supply chain and from the use of the Dürr Group's products by customers.
The syndicate of lending banks consists of twelve banks from Germany and abroad. The loan agreement does not contain any financial covenants. This means that the Dürr Group does not have to reach any contractually defined key figures. Dürr AG received legal support from the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, while the syndicate of banks was advised by Hengeler Müller.