Denmark. Chr. Hansen Holding A/S
| Date of agreement: | 24 Oct 2022 |
|---|---|
| Country: | Denmark |
| Customer: | Chr. Hansen Holding A/S |
| Amount in DKK: | DKK 750 million |
| Amount in EUR: | EUR 101 million |
| Maturity: | 7 years |
| NACE sector / loan type: | Research and development |
Project
The loan has been provided to finance Chr. Hansen’s research and development (R&D) expenditures during 2021-2023.
Chr. Hansen produces natural ingredient solutions for the food and beverage, health and agriculture industries. R&D plays a key role in the company’s operations. Around 700 of its employees work in the field, amounting to approximately 19% of the total workforce.
This is NIB’s fifth loan agreement with Chr. Hansen Holding for R&D investments in the last decade.
Founded in 1874, Chr. Hansen Holding A/S is a global supplier of bioscience-based ingredients. The company has around 3,800 employees worldwide.
Fulfilment of NIB's mandate
Chr. Hansen are continuously improving its R&D performance. Their high value added products address societal challenges and mega-trends such as human health and food security. The company has a high R&D expenditure to revenue ratio as well as high commercialisation rates.
In the coming years, the company will focus on speeding up large scale production processes through automation and software development. Innovations and optimisation processes will improve productivity.
This will also have positive spill over effects in the labour market, contributing to sector specific knowledge and strengthening the Danish food technology cluster.
Furthermore, the investments in R&D can reduce food waste by extending the shelf-life of food products and improving fermentation processes. Some environmental benefits might also derive from reducing the use of pesticides and water in agriculture.
Impact indicators:
- R&D intensity (R&D expenditures as a % of turnover)
- Commercialisation rate
Sustainability summary
No sustainability issues have been identified in relation with the investments. The company’s Environmental, Social and Governance activities have been rated as above average in the Bank’s ESG analysis.
