Grupo Prodi and Mota-Engil Mexico will provide confidence, financial solvency and important commercial and business synergies
The capital increase of Duro Felguera achieved yesterday, at the Extraordinary General Meeting held in Gijón, the support of more than 98% of the shareholders. This operation, which provides 90 million euros for the entry of two leading industrial investors, Grupo Prodi and Mota-Engil Mexico, is a historic milestone for the company, marking a turning point in its trajectory and consolidating the restoration of its leadership.
The entry of these investors represents the definitive long-term financial recovery, sustainable growth and cash generation, as well as providing confidence, solvency and significant commercial and business synergies. With this boost, Duro Felguera is on its way to becoming a robust company once again, with an ambitious but feasible business plan that foresees more than 1,000 million in order intake and sales in four years.
The Chairman, Rosa Aza, and the CEO, Jaime Argüelles, expressed their satisfaction and thanked the practically unanimous positive vote of the shareholders for the operation, as well as the support received from the institutional and social spheres, from customers and suppliers and, especially, from financial institutions.
The team of people, a fundamental role
In addition, they highlighted the fundamental role of Duro Felguera’s team of people, who have contributed to shaping a capable and efficient organisation, demonstrating resilience and confidence in its future worthy of all recognition.
In line with this, the CEO wanted to emphasise that “Duro Felguera is a company that provides differential solutions to its customers, and this is due to its people, to their talent, knowledge and experience. This is our great asset, our competitive advantage. People are the real architects of the fact that we have been able to get this far and that, after very hard years, we can now look forward to a great future”.
Rosa Aza also pointed out that “this operation will link us to the right allies and will allow us to generate opportunities with new industrial projects and provide synergies for business expansion and growth in international spheres. The step from viability to stability and growth”.
Great opportunities
For his part, the CEO, Jaime Argüelles, pointed out that “we see great opportunities in the energy transition, decarbonisation, environmental improvement, the need for greater energy autonomy in Europe, digital transformation and the even greater presence in international markets that we will achieve with our new partners”.
The transaction consists of a capital increase of €90m, based on previous loans of €40m and €50m provided by each of the investors. It is structured in two capital increases.
The first, of €40m with preferential subscription rights for current shareholders, and the amount not subscribed up to €40m would be covered by the Mota-Engil Mexico Group. This guarantees the capital increase of €40 million at a price of €0.7661 per share, which is the average of the last three months prior to the public notification of this operation.
The second capital increase is by capitalisation. It consists of the conversion of the loan and interest of the Prodi group, for €50m, which will give rise to a 31% stake in the company, also at the same price of €0.7661 per share.
In short, the operation consists of an entry into the capital of the Prodi Group, with 31% and, depending on what our shareholders decide with their subscription rights, up to 24% of the Mota-Engil Mexico group, with both groups, acting in concert, being able to reach up to 55%.
In short, this operation will give rise to a bright future for Duro Felguera. It fulfils the commitment to seek a definitive viability solution for the company. All this, thanks to the support of the shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting.