Umicore secures € 499 million in sustainability-linked private debt placement

Umicore secures € 499 million in sustainability-linked private debt placement

Umicore has successfully completed the issue of a fixed-rate, sustainability-linked US Private Placement Notes for a total amount of € 499 million equivalent¹ which was priced end of March 2024. The Notes, placed with 17 institutional investors in Europe and North America, attracted strong interest both from investors who participated in Umicore’s previous placements, as well as new investors.

The transaction is composed of several tranches with maturities ranging from 7 to 12 years corresponding to a weighted average maturity of more than nine years. The funds of this issue will be drawn upon in July 2024.

This issue further ties the Group’s funding to its sustainability performance. The interest rate of the Notes will be directly linked to Umicore’s progress towards decarbonization formulated in its “Let’s go for Zero” sustainability ambitions: net zero scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in 2035, with intermediate targets to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 20% in 2025 and by 50% in 2030, and to reduce the intensity of purchased materials (scope 3, category 1) by 42% by 2030.  The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated Umicore’s Scope 1 and 2 2030 target ambition to be in line with a 1.5°C trajectory and the Scope 3 2030 target to be in line with a well below 2°C trajectory.

Through the successful completion of this private placement offering, Umicore diversifies and extends its funding base and the maturity of its debt at attractive fixed rate conditions. The proceeds of the offering will be used for refinancing and general corporate purposes. This includes in particular the funding of Umicore’s projects under its 2030 RISE strategy based on powerful megatrends such as the rapid acceleration towards cleaner transport, the growing need for high-tech advanced materials and the need for circularity through recycling. All areas for which Umicore intends to deliver profitable growth and value creation.

Wannes Peferoen, CFO of Umicore, commented: “This successful private debt placement, for the fourth consecutive time, will provide Umicore with additional attractively priced, fixed-rate, long-term financing and will support the execution of our 2030 RISE growth strategy. The transaction was substantially oversubscribed, a clear sign of the strong interest from, and the strength of our relationships with, the institutional debt investors. Furthermore, it confirms the awareness of the social and sustainability impact of financing decisions in a context of climate change and resource scarcity and demonstrates Umicore’s strong commitment to its “Let’s go for Zero” sustainability ambitions.”

Together with the new € 350 million loan from the European Investment Bank signed in February 2024, this € 499 million issue will complement the existing portfolio of long-term debt instruments, including Convertible Bonds, Schuldschein, previous USPPs and EIB loans. In addition to its debt portfolio, Umicore has access to € 1.1 billion of undrawn Syndicated Bank Credit Facilities and substantial additional uncommitted short term financing instruments, including commercial paper programs.

For more information                                                                         

Investor Relations

Media Relations 

Umicore profile

Umicore is a circular materials technology company that focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are organized into four Business Groups: Battery Materials, Catalysis, Recycling and Specialty Materials. Each Business Group is divided into market-focused business units offering materials and solutions at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life.

Umicore generates most of its revenues from and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean mobility materials and recycling. Umicore’s overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfills its mission: Materials for a better life. 
   
Umicore’s industrial and commercial operations as well as its R&D activities are spread across the world to best serve its international customer base with more than 11,500 employees. The Group generated revenues (excluding metal) of € 3.9 billion (turnover of € 18.3 billion) in 2023. 
 

About Umicore’s “Let’s go for Zero” ambitions

At Umicore, we see it as our corporate responsibility, or better yet, our mission to use our technological know-how, scientific expertise and corporate reach to be an industry leader in sustainability. We are determined to rethink processes, transform and focus our efforts on net zero GHG emissions, zero regrets and endless possibilities.
For more information on our “Let’s go for Zero” ambitions: click here.

Forward looking statements and disclaimer

THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH DISTRIBUTION IS PROHIBITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

The issue, exercise or sale of securities in the offering mentioned in this press release are subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. The information contained herein shall not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Umicore (“Umicore”) assumes no responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered, exercised or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. There is no intention to register any portion of the offering in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.

This press release may only be communicated, or caused to be communicated, to persons in the United Kingdom in circumstances where the provisions of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “Financial Services and Markets Act”) do not apply to Umicore and is directed solely at persons in the United Kingdom who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments, such persons falling within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) or (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This communication is directed only to relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons.

The securities referred to in this press release are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”) or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation 2017/1129, as amended (the “Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the securities or otherwise make them available to a retail investor in the EEA has been prepared and, therefore, offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

The securities referred to herein are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, any retail investor in the United Kingdom (“UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”) or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act and any rules or regulations made under the Financial Services and Markets Act to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and, therefore, offering or selling the securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

The securities referred to herein are also not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available, and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available, in Belgium to consumers (“consumenten/consommateurs”) within the meaning of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (“Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit économique”), as amended.

This document contains forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, including statements about Umicore’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks and are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Umicore. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or contingencies materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, expected, estimated or projected. As a result, neither Umicore nor any other person assumes any responsibility for the accuracy of these forward-looking statements.

This press release does not constitute a prospectus nor an advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

¹ Total EUR equivalent of all USD and EUR tranches based on FX-rate of 1.08 USD per EUR at pricing.