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.”