| COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT no. 34 - 17 October 2023 |
- Sale and leaseback of three freight ferries for a 5-year period
- Total sales price of DKK 1.5bn
- Financial leverage (NIBD/EBITDA) improved by 0.15x
- Investment outlook for 2023 reduced to DKK 0.1bn from previously DKK 1.6bn
To increase financial flexibility, DFDS has entered into an agreement with Navigare Capital to sell and leaseback three freight ferries for a total sales price of DKK 1.46bn.
”This transaction improves financial flexibility by releasing cash and lowering our asset ownership share. We retain control of the assets ensuring that reliability and customer service levels are upheld”, Karina Deacon, CFO & EVP of DFDS.
The leasing period is five years starting from the day of delivery which is expected this week. The agreement includes a right of first refusal to purchase the ferries at the end of the leasing period. The three ferries are Flandria Seaways, Humbria Seaways, and Scandia Seaways built in 2020/2020/2021, respectively.
The transaction entails a net reduction of invested capital by DKK 0.6bn and a decrease of net interest-bearing debt (NIBD) by DKK 0.7bn. Financial leverage as measured by NIBD/EBITDA decreases 0.15x.
A financial gain of around DKK 145m on the sale of the three ferries will be reported in the income statement in the Q4 2023 report as a gain on disposal of non-current assets and included in EBITA (Operating profit before amortisation).
Investment outlook changed
Following the transaction, the investment outlook for 2023, excluding acquisitions, is lowered to DKK 0.1bn from previously DKK 1.6bn.
Contact
Torben Carlsen, CEO +45 33 42 32 01
Karina Deacon, CFO +45 33 42 33 42
Søren Brøndholt Nielsen, IR +45 33 42 33 59
Christina Bruun Madsen, Media +45 51 71 42 88
About DFDS
We operate a transport network in and around Europe with an annual revenue of DKK 27bn and 12,800 full-time employees.
We move goods in trailers by ferry, road & rail, and we offer complementary transport and logistics solutions.
We also move car and foot passengers on short sea and overnight ferry routes.
DFDS was founded in 1866 and headquartered and listed in Copenhagen.
Capital markets day 13 December
DFDS is hosting a CMD on 13 December 2023. More information and sign-up is available here.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
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