Meyer Burger Technology has sold its corporate headquarters in Gwatt, Thun to Helvetica Swiss Commercial Fund (HSC Fund) to improve its liquidity.
The purchase price is CHF 42.5 million, of which around CHF 31 million will be transferred at the time of change of ownership, with the remainder following in tranches over the course of the next five years. After repayment of the mortgage debt, Meyer Burger will retain approximately CHF 19 million of the payment due upon the transfer of ownership.
The two parties have registered a purchase contract to this effect on October 22, 2019. Subject to the expected approval of the City of Thun, which currently holds a pre-emptive right to acquire the building, it is anticipated that the transaction and change of ownership will be concluded shortly.
Manfred Häner, CFO of Meyer Burger: “With the completion of the sale of the building, we are improving our liquidity and thus strengthening the basis for implementing our strategic realignment.”
For its part, Meyer Burger will continue to occupy around 4,400 square meters of the building as a tenant. The 22,900 square meter commercial and office complex is fully let.
Meyer Burger had already announced the sale of the group-owned building dating from 2011 a number of months ago for reasons including its strategic and organizational reorientation.