Bochum, January 2010 – In 2009, the GEA Group entered into a loan
agreement with the European Investment Bank for EUR 150 million that expires in
2016. The loan will serve to fund research and development
expenses. This move ensures that GEA can extend and grow its strong
financing base at an early stage.
“This loan agreement underlines that
- even in difficult macroeconomic conditions - GEA remains focused on
and invests in pioneering innovations. Our research and development
activities are always geared to offering our customers even more
energy-efficient products for their production processes and therefore to
strengthening GEA’s leading market position,” commented Dr. Helmut Schmale, CFO
of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.
GEA Group
Aktiengesellschaft is one of the largest system providers for food and energy
processes with about EUR 5.2 billion in 2008 revenue. As an internationally
operating technology group, the company focuses on process technology and
components for demanding production processes in various end markets. The group
generates about 70 percent of its revenue from the long-term growing food and
energy industries. As of September 30, 2009, a workforce of over 20,000
employees served customers in 50 countries. GEA Group is a market and
technology leader in 90 percent of its business areas. GEA Group is listed in
the MDAX index (G1A, WKN 660200).