Scout24 AG optimises and expands financing structure with new loan
Berlin / Munich, 19 July 2018 –
- Comprehensive financing package with a volume of EUR 1.0 billion
- Further improvement of interest conditions with expected annual savings of EUR 2.4 million euros post recent acquisition, EUR 630 million of undrawn debt available for acquisition purposes
- CFO Christian Gisy: “We can manage shareholder profit participation and debt reduction at the same time and we will perform accordingly in the future.”
Scout24 AG has concluded a comprehensive syndicated financing package with a total volume of EUR 1.0 billion and a maximum term of five years with nine renowned European banks led by ABN Amro Bank N.V. and UniCredit Bank AG as joint coordinators and bookrunners and UniCredit Bank AG acting as Facility Agent.
“This new loan is another great success in optimising and expanding our financing structure. Especially against the background of the recent acquisition, the early refinancing reflects our economic performance and strength. We have already impressively demonstrated that we can manage shareholder profit participation and debt reduction at the same time and we will perform accordingly in the future," said Christian Gisy, CFO of Scout24 AG.
In particular, the financing package consists of a term loan of EUR 300 million, a revolving credit facility of EUR 200 million, which is currently drawn in the amount of EUR 70 million, and a revolving credit facility of 500 EUR million for acquisitions purposes. The new credit agreement has considerably improved interest conditions, which will be reflected in expected annual savings of EUR 2.4 million per year after the financing of FINANZCHECK.de. The maturity of the individual financing facilities is five years or, in the case of the acquisition credit facility, three years with two one-year extension options. The loan is unsecured, with the interest margin being linked to the leverage ratio (ratio of net debt to ordinary operating EBITDA over the last twelve months).
Scout24 AG has once again succeeded in significantly improving its financing conditions, reflecting the very good business development of recent years. The costs of refinancing in the 2018 financial year will have a one-off impact of EUR 4.1 million.
Noerr LLP advised Scout24 on the refinancing from a legal perspective.
About Scout24
With our leading digital marketplaces ImmobilienScout24 and AutoScout24 in Germany and across Europe we are inspiring people to make their best decisions on finding a home and a car. Additional services, such as credit information, the brokerage of relocation services or construction and car financing, are bundled in the Scout24 Consumer Services business division. More than 1,200 employees are working on the success of our products and services, putting the consumers' needs first in order to create a connected network for living and mobility. Scout24 is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A12DM80, G24). For further information, please visit www.scout24.com, our Corporate Blog and Tech Blog, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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