Deutz secures new syndicated loan to bolster finances

German engine manufacturer 201 Deutz has replaced its existing funding arrangements with a new syndicated loan.

The working capital facility totalling €160million is being provided by a syndicate of German banks. The credit line is unsecured and runs until June 2017.

In addition, Deutz has received a low-interest loan amounting to €90 million from the 1054 European Investment Bank. This loan, which is also unsecured, is repayable over a period of eight years with a grace period of two years. Deutz has hedged the interest-rate risk arising from this loan.

"This syndicated loan and the loan from the European Investment Bank have enabled us to secure long-term funding for our projects and further growth. The stronger position in which the Company now finds itself has allowed us to further reduce our interest expenses for the next years and to significantly widen the range of options available to us", said Dr Margarete Haase, Deutz management board member responsible for finance, human resources and investor relations.

In June 2012 the 2394 Volvo Group increased its shares in Deutz from 6.7% to 25%, making the Swedish construction machine manufacturer the single largest shareholder in the company. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.