Dufry with S&P Rating Upgrade to BB- and CreditWatch Positive

S&P Global Ratings upgraded Dufry’s credit rating to BB- and CreditWatch Positive following Dufry’s Full-Year Results 2022 publication on March 7, 2023, and the successful closing of the Autogrill combination with the transfer of Edizione’s 50.3% stake in Autogrill to Dufry at the beginning of February, 2023.

In the rating report published on March 28, 2023, S&P referred to Dufry’s sound trading performance on the back of air travel recovery, the company’s solid liquidity position and the sound business rationale of the combination with Autogrill, which S&P expects to enhance Dufry's economies of scale and diversification in terms of geographical footprint and product mix. S&P further comments in its report that the CreditWatch placement indicates that further rating actions might be possible again after the completion of the Mandatory Tender Offer (MTO), and with the final capital structure in place.

Yves Gerster, CFO of Dufry Group, commented: “We are pleased about the rating upgrade received by S&P this week. It further underlines our strong full-year 2022 performance, positive outlook as well as strong financial position with more than CHF 2.3 billion available liquidity and the lowest net debt level since 2015. We are well positioned for any upcoming financing requirements and are confirming the expected closing of the MTO by the end of Q2 2023.”
 

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Legal Disclaimer 
The mandatory public exchange offer (the “Offer”) is launched exclusively in Italy and is made on a non-discriminatory basis and on equal terms to all holders of Autogrill shares, as indicated in the notice published pursuant to article 102 of the Italian Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998 (the “Notice”) and further described in the offer document (the “Offer Document”) and the exemption document (the “Exemption Document") that will be published in accordance with the applicable regulation. 

The Offer has not been and will not be made in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and any other jurisdictions where making the Offer or tendering therein would not be in compliance with the securities or other laws or regulations of such jurisdiction or would require any registration, approval or filing with any regulatory authority (such jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, the “Excluded Countries”), by using national or international instruments of communication or commerce of the Excluded Countries (including, by way of illustration, the postal network, fax, telex, e-mail, telephone and internet), through any structure of any of the Excluded Countries’ financial intermediaries or in any other way. No actions have been taken or will be taken to make the Offer possible in any of the Excluded Countries. 

Copies of the Notice, the Offer Document, or portions thereof, as well as copies of any documents relating to the Offer, including the Exemption Document, are not and should not be sent, or in any way transmitted, or otherwise distributed, directly or indirectly, in the Excluded Countries. Any person receiving any such documents shall not distribute, send or dispatch them (whether by post or by any other mean or device of communication or international commerce) in the Excluded Countries. The Notice, the Offer Document, as well as any other document relating to the Offer, including the Exemption Document, do not constitute and shall not be construed as an offer of financial instruments addressed to persons domiciled and/or resident in the Excluded Countries. No securities may be offered or sold in the Excluded Countries without specific authorization in accordance with the applicable provisions of the local law of the Excluded Countries or a waiver thereof.

This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into the United States of America (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia) (the "United States"). This document does not constitute, or form part of, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States. The securities of Dufry AG have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There is no intention to register any securities referred to herein in the United States or to make a public offering of the securities in the United States.

This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares. This document is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act and not a prospectus under any other applicable laws. 

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to Dufry and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Dufry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. Dufry disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. 

For further information:

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End of Media Release

1596367  30.03.2023 CET/CEST