Corporate | 7 January 2015 16:05

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft: GEA repays financial liabilities ahead of schedule

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Miscellaneous/Bond

07.01.2015 / 16:05

GEA repays financial liabilities ahead of schedule

Düsseldorf, January 7, 2015 – GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft reduced its financial liabilities ahead of schedule by over EUR 400 million in the past few weeks, using various measures. A further repayment of EUR 100 million ahead of schedule is planned for January 2015. GEA is thus systematically implementing its previously announced financial policy of using part of the proceeds of approximately EUR 1 billion from the recent sale of the Heat Exchangers Segment to repay financial liabilities.

Specifically, two loans totaling around EUR 72 million from Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) were repaid initially. In addition, GEA repurchased bonds amounting to EUR 125 million. The remaining bonds totaling approximately EUR 275 million are still due in April 2016. The Company also repaid borrower’s note loans of EUR 210 million in December 2014.

“By the end of January 2015, we will have used around half of the proceeds from the sale of the Heat Exchangers Segment to repay financial liabilities. This not only highlights how important it is for us to maintain our investment grade rating, but also improves our financial result. The repayments will save us interest of approximately EUR 10 million next year. In the medium term, we want to use existing, available funds from current liquidity and future cash flows for small and medium-sized acquisitions, in order to further strengthen our position as a leading system provider for the food industry,” said Dr. Helmut Schmale, CFO of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.

About GEA Group
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft is one of the largest suppliers for the food processing industry and a wide range of process industries that generated consolidated sales of approximately 4.3 billion euros in 2013. As an international technology group, the Company focuses on process technology and components for sophisticated production processes in various end-user markets. The Group generates more than 70 percent of its revenue in the sustainably growing food industry. As of September 30, 2014, the Group employed more than 18,000 people worldwide. GEA Group is a market and technology leader in its business areas. The Company is listed in Germany’s MDAX stock index (G1A, WKN 660 200). In addition, GEA is a constituent of one of the MSCI Global Sustainability Indices. Further information is available on the Internet at www.gea.com .

If you do not want to receive any further information from GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, please send an email to pr@gea.com or call us at (tel.: +49-(0)211-9136-1492 ).

Contact:
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
Phone +49 (0)211 9136 1492
Fax +49 (0)211 9136 31087
www.gea.com

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Language:	English
Company:	GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
	Peter-Müller-Straße 12
	40468 Düsseldorf
	Germany
Phone:	+49 (0)211 9136-0
Fax:	+49 (0)211 9136-31087
E-mail:	ir@gea.com
Internet:	www.gea.com
ISIN:	DE0006602006
WKN:	660200
Indices:	MDAX
Listed:	Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, München; Freiverkehr in Hannover, Stuttgart

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