(AOF) – In a context of increased volatility in the financial markets, Fnac Darty has chosen to secure the refinancing of its next major bond debt maturity of 300 million euros maturing in May 2024 well in advance. announces that it will put in place an additional undrawn bank credit line, in the form of a Delayed Drawn Term Loan (DDTL) of 300 million euros, which can be drawn only once and only to repay the bond loan reaching maturity in 2024.
This new line is based on a bank contract with conditions similar to those of the existing RCF credit line of 500 million euros. It will have a maturity of three years in the event of a drawdown, which may be extended by two years. It also includes a Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSR) component which will enable the Group to improve its financing conditions if the objectives, set in line with those of the Everyday strategic plan, are achieved.
Thanks to this option, Fnac Darty can thus maintain the bond line until its maturity in May 2024 while benefiting from the low initial annual coupon of 1.875%, and thus secure its level of financial expenses.
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Key points
– First French distributor, born in 2016, of technical products and household appliances under the Fnac and Darty brands and second web distributor;
– Activity of €8 billion split between technical products (49%), editorial products (16%), household appliances (22%) and other products & services;
– Strong presence in France & Switzerland (83% of sales), the Iberian Peninsula (9%) and Belgium & Luxembourg and first steps in Africa in Senegal;
– Responsible digital distributor business model;
– Open capital with the German Ceconomy as the 1st shareholder, followed by the insurer Indexia, Enrique Martinez being managing director and Jacques Veyrat chairing the board of 14 members;
– Financial position under control with €1.2 billion in cash and €1.6 billion in equity, compared to €1.1 billion in net debt
Challenges
– New Everyday strategic plan based on 3 pillars by 2025: digitization, via 50% of investments, in omnichannel distribution by placing sellers at the center of advice and targeting 30% of sales on the web / support for customers towards more sustainable products via the sustainability score (reliability, availability of spare parts, repair) / deployment of DartyMax, repair service by subscription (targeted 2M subscribers) / cumulative free self-financing of €500m over 2021-23 and €240m annually from 2025 ;
– Data-oriented innovation strategy and open innovation: improvement of knowledge and quality of data and partnership with Google on the use of data, network of partner venture capital funds and Digital Factory;
– Environmental strategy: halving of CO2 emissions in 2030 vs 2019 / circular economy with the extension of the life cycle of products (DartyMax repair subscription, “Darty sustainable choice” label, deployment of WeFix repair services in partnership with Apple) and resale of second-hand books in partnership with La Bourse aux livres / partnership with Valeco to increase the share of green energy and with the Raise Seed for Good seed fund integrating ESG criteria into its support;
– Customer loyalty with 10 million members, including 7 million in France;
– Expanded diversification after kitchen furniture at Darty and mobility, establishment of home spaces, games and toys in stores;
– Rise to 26% of sales in France from online purchases, coupled with the opening of 55 stores, bringing the total to 957.
Challenges
– Strong competitive risk from Amazon;
– Ability to maintain supply despite difficulties in supply chains;
– Spin-offs from partnerships with Google Cloud and, in Switzerland, with the Manor network;
– 2022 expectations confirmed after an increase in profitability in the 1st quarter: caution on market trends but acceleration of the Everyday plan by capitalizing on the omnichannel sector, cost control and continued subscriptions;
– Dividend of €2 for 2021.
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Concerns remain
According to the Federation of Specialized Trade, Procos, in October 2022, activity fell by 1.5% over one year. Nevertheless, the beauty and health (+ 5.2%) and specialized food (+ 3.5%) activity is dynamic compared to October 2021. The frequentation of the points of sale was very impacted by the problems of fuel and bad weather. Compared to October 2019, the pre-covid year, the drop in attendance is very sharp (-20.9% in October). Shopping centers and the outskirts are more impacted than city centers with a difference of four to five points.
Several reasons for concern exist for the future. The players are experiencing a very significant scissor effect given the increase in their operating costs while the evolution of demand is very uncertain. Very few brands can pass on the increase in their costs to their selling prices. The federation therefore asks, among other things, to limit the indexation of the Commercial Rent Index to + 3.5% for the rents of all companies in 2023. It also invokes an absolute urgency: to cap the price of energy for 2023 and retroact on the contracts already signed to prevent the rate of failures from accelerating.