9.Financing

The €5.0 billion Debt Issuance Program launched in the first quarter of 2016 is a key form of external financing. In fiscal 2016, Covestro placed bonds totaling €1.5 billion, of which two fixed-rate tranches with terms until October 2021 (a coupon of 1.00% and a volume of €500 million) and September 2024 (a coupon of 1.75% and a volume of €500 million) remain in the portfolio. An additional €1.0 billion in bonds was placed on June 5, 2020. The fixed-rate bonds have terms expiring in February 2026 (a coupon of 0.875% and a volume of €500 million) and June 2030 (a coupon of 1.375% and a volume of €500 million). The proceeds of the bond placement serve to further reinforce Covestro's liquidity in view of the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and to provide funds to repay the existing bond maturing in fiscal 2021.

Effective March 17, 2020, Covestro obtained a new syndicated revolving credit facility totaling €2.5 billion with a term of five years, including two options for extending the term by one year in each case. An important new feature of the credit line is its link to an ESG (environment, social, governance) rating: The lower (higher) the externally calculated ESG score is, the lower (higher) the interest component of the credit facility. The new facility replaces the existing revolving credit line of €1.5 billion and, like it, functions as a backup liquidity reserve.

Furthermore, Covestro AG obtained a €225 million loan for research and development from the European Investment Bank (EIB) in March 2020. The focus here is, in particular, on sustainability and the circular economy in the European Union. The term of the EIB loan runs until September 30, 2025.

In addition, short-term loans totaling €500 million were assumed in the first quarter of 2020, €125 million of which was repaid according to schedule in June 2020. The remaining loan amount of €375 million comes due in September 2020.