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Yara delivers on its strategy as the Crop Nutrition Company for the Future
Jun. 28, 2019
Yara International ASA
NorwayFollow
NorwayYara has announced it is evaluating an IPO of its industrial nitrogen businesses, expanding its improvement program by 70% and setting out clear principles for capital allocation.
“Yara has an unrivalled position in the fertilizer industry based on 114 years of crop nutrition experience. Going forward, our focus will be on growing value through continuous improvement and through our sustainable crop nutrition solutions including premium products and digital farming tools,” says President & CEO of Yara International ASA, Svein Tore Holsether.
Evaluating IPO of industrial assets
An IPO of Yara’s industrial nitrogen businesses would create the first integrated industrial nitrogen company. Such a company would take an industry-leading position, with the highest value proposition in core markets, a solid European platform and an attractive market portfolio balancing stability and growth.
The conclusion of a final IPO scope is expected early 2020. As part of the evaluation process, the business units Mining Applications (TAN), Transport Reagents and Industrial Nitrates will effective 1 July 2019 be organized in a separate entity. Yves Bonte, previously EVP New Business, will take up the role as CEO of this entity, reporting to an internal board of directors chaired by Yara’s President & CEO. Consequently, Bonte will no longer be a member of the Yara Corporate Management Team.
“Yara is well underway to becoming a focused crop nutrition company, and the evaluation of an IPO is an important step in that direction,” says Svein Tore Holsether. “This would create significant growth opportunities, strategic focus and flexibility, for both a carved out business and for Yara. A new ownership structure would allow these businesses to continue to thrive and grow profitably, while continuing to provide healthy returns to Yara.”
Updated targets for capital allocation
Following a period of several significant investments, Yara’s focus is on strict capital discipline and capturing the full value of recent investments. Yara announces a targeted capital structure to maintain a mid-investment grade credit rating, targeting 1.5x-2.0x Net debt/EBITDA and Net debt/Equity <0.60. The target for ordinary dividends is lifted to 50% of Net Income, subject to maintaining a mid-investment credit rating.
“Our updated targets for capital allocation reflect our commitment to a mid-investment grade credit rating, while offering competitive returns to our shareholders,” says EVP & CFO Lars Røsæg.
Increased improvement program targets
Yara announces a 70% increase in targeted earnings improvements from the Yara Improvement Program, expanding the program from 2020 to 2023. Key levers to achieve these targets will be higher production volumes and energy efficiency, a leaner cost base with clear fixed cost targets and improved working capital management. The improvement program is on track to meet its original end 2020 target, representing an important milestone towards realizing the expanded targets by end 2023.
“The Yara improvement program is an important element in our culture of continuous improvements. Thanks to the quality of our organization, we have realized significant savings over the last years, providing important support to our bottom line in challenging market conditions. This gives us confidence that we will reach also the expanded targets,” says President & CEO Svein Tore Holsether.
Source: Yara news release
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