Corporate

Merz Obtains Syndicated Loan of Up to EUR 500 Million

Frankfurt am Main,June 11, 2015

The pharmaceuticals company Merz has arranged a syndicated loan of up to EUR 500 million with a group of five banks.
For the first time in its corporate history, Merz will be using borrowed funds in order to have the greatest possible freedom of action going forward. The company has obtained a syndicated loan facility of EUR 200 million that can be increased as needed to as much as EUR 500 million.
The facility arranged with the banks that make up the syndicate has a term of five years that may be extended twice for further one-year periods.
“This syndicated loan will give Merz swift access to funding on advantageous terms, thereby guaranteeing maximum independence for the company,” stated Beat Neukom, Chief Financial Officer of Merz Pharma. “In signing this loan agreement,” he went on to say, “Merz demonstrates that it is holding steadfastly to its growth policy and is prepared to invest further in order to strengthen its status as one of the market leaders in Aesthetics and Neurotoxins.” At the present time, however, no investment of similar magnitude is on the agenda.
In addition to lead arrangers Deutsche Bank and HSBC, the syndicate includes Frankfurter Sparkasse, BNP Paribas, and DZ Bank.

About the Merz Pharma Group

Merz is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in Frankfurt, Germany, with subsidiaries in European countries, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The company is active in research, development and distribution of innovative products in the areas of Aesthetic medicine and neurologically induced movement disorders.
In the Aesthetics segment Merz offers a balanced portfolio of products for minimally invasive treatments. With the dermal fillers Radiesse®, Belotero®, Glytone® and the Botulinum Neurotoxin Bocouture® as well as the Neocutis line of anti-aging, the company is a major player in the global Aesthetics market. Our offerings were supplemented by ultrasound-technology after the acquisition of Ulthera in mid 2014. For the treatment of neurologically induced movement disorders, Merz developed Xeomin®, the first botulinum toxin that is free of complex proteins.
With its tetesept® and Merz Spezial® brands, Merz Consumer Care is the leading provider of OTC medication, dietary supplements and skincare products in the German-speaking countries.
The Merz Pharma Group employs 2,738 people worldwide (previous year: 2,443). The Company generated revenue of EUR 994 million in fiscal year 2013/14 (previous year: EUR 980.2 million).