SEB Bank to grant lease to Carlsberg Group for its car fleet upgrade in the Baltics

International beer producer Carlsberg Group, which in Lithuania operates the country’s largest brewery Švyturys-Utenos Alus, will be issued financing by SEB Baltic banks in an amount of EUR 4.3 million for the upgrade of its transport fleet.  In total, Carlsberg Group will acquire more than 250 cars by leasing.  The cars will be equipped with a driver breath-test system.

“We have seen increasingly in recent times a need of large enterprises to upgrade their car fleets in the three Baltic countries. This allows companies to have more effective negotiations with vehicle dealers and secure the best financing terms. SEB Baltic banks share their expertise and insights, therefore, the expectation of Carlsberg to announce a tender in several countries has offered us an opportunity to demonstrate the advantages of cooperation between our banks.  We see that this year the market for new cars has increased by more than 20 per cent, which indicates that the upgrade of the Lithuanian car fleet is proceeding at an accelerating pace, making cars safer and more environmentally friendly,” says  Vilius Juzikis,  Member of the Management Board and Head of Corporate Banking Division of SEB Bank.

Carlsberg Group plans to purchase, by way of leasing, 257 vehicles: 123 in Lithuania, 67 in Latvia and 67 in Estonia.

“We continually upgrade our car fleet using the most advanced technological and environmentally friendly solutions. However, this particular investment is an exceptional one – all the new purchased cars will have integrated driver breath-testing equipment.  As far as we know, we are the first ones in Lithuania to do it, and our idea is to set an example and encourage other companies to act faster in introducing cutting-edge technologies that ensure safety on the roads.  Carlsberg Group has committed itself to supply all of the vehicles of the concern with this kind of equipment, therefore, it is exciting that in Lithuania and in other Baltic countries we are the leaders in launching the solution,” says Rolandas Viršilas, Head of Carlsberg companies in the Baltic countries.

SEB Baltic banks will sign the code of practice of Carlsberg Group’s suppliers and licensees, thus consolidating and emphasizing the importance of social corporate responsibility and high operating standards for both counterparties.

SEB Bank experts think that it is one of the more important current-year car fleet upgrade transactions, which is particular in the sense that one purchase will satisfy the needs of all companies operating in the three Baltic countries.  Cars in all the three countries will be purchased from Inchcape Motors.

Parties to the transaction were SEB banks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, UAB Švyturys-Utenos Alus, AS Aldaris (Latvia) and AS Saku Õlletehase (Estonia).