BayWa sells Cefetra to First Dutch in debt-reduction deal
Deal to cut debt by over €650 million in 2025
18 June 2025
2 minute read
By: German agribusiness giant BayWa AG has signed an agreement to sell its subsidiary Cefetra to Dutch entrepreneur Peter Goedvolk, chairman of First Dutch, according to a company-issued press release. The deal, announced last week, is still subject to antitrust reviews and other standard conditions.
BayWa said the transaction will cut its bank liabilities by more than €650 million, with roughly €500 million resulting from the deconsolidation of Cefetra. The move is part of a broader transformation plan aimed at creating a leaner, more sustainable company.
“The sale is a step in the right direction as we continue to focus on the business areas that form the core of BayWa,” said BayWa CEO Frank Hiller.
The company said it intends to continue operating in four core areas: agriculture, building materials, heating and mobility, and agricultural equipment. It plans to use the proceeds to repay debt and strengthen operating liquidity.
BayWa Chief Restructuring Officer Michael Baur said the signing marked another key milestone. “Today's signing of the contract for the sale of Cefetra means a further significant reduction in the BayWa Group's debt by over €650 million with the closing planned for Q3 2025,” said Baur. “Following the sale of the RWA shares realised in the first half of 2025, the sale of Cefetra is another significant structural milestone in BayWa's ongoing transformation.”
BayWa had earlier announced the completion of its sale of shares in Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG in May, a move that reduced its debt by around €500 million. With both transactions, the company expects to cut its debt by more than €1.1 billion by the end of the year.
For First Dutch, the acquisition of Cefetra fits into its global expansion strategy.
“First Dutch is a global player in commodity supply chains with offices in over 1,500 ports worldwide and headquartered in Cefetra's home city of Rotterdam, the gateway to Europe,” said Goedvolk. “We are proud to welcome Cefetra as an experienced member of the First Dutch family of companies.”
