Dow Chemical, DuPont engaged in late-stage merger talks, report says

NY (Bloomberg) -- Dow Chemical Co. is in late stage discussions to unite with DuPont Co. in what will be the the biggest deal in the chemicals sector, individuals with knowledge of the issue told Bloomberg.
An treaty could be declared when this week, stated the individuals, who requested to not be identified as the info is private. Following the amalgamation, the business would break into 2 or three companies due to regulatory as well as other problems, the folks said. There is no guarantee a deal will get done and discussions may nevertheless fall aside, Bloomberg reported.
Both firms have a significant presence in the automotive supply-chain. DuPont's automotive component ranks No. 6 4 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with estimated worldwide sales to car companies of $3 billion in 2014. The organization makes various polymers, composites, compounds and bio-based fuels for auto makers.
Dow Automotive positions No. 72 on the checklist, creating $2.8 billion in company with auto makers last year. The business makes various glues, foams and industrial fluids for auto makers.
The trade -- with more than $120 billion in combined market-value -- would unite a couple of the very storied names in U.S. business and produce the world's 2nd-greatest chemical business behind BASF SE plus the the greatest seed and pesticide business, surpassing Monsanto Co. Representatives of both organizations declined to comment.
The Wsj reported the amalgamation discussions before on Tuesday.
This year has been a tumultuous one for DuPont, whose former CEO Ellen Kullman stepped down in October, about five months after winning a proxy fight waged by means of an activist investor. Dow CEO Andrew Liveris directed the firm's recovery from near-insolvency through the fiscal disaster and has faced pressure from an activist investor -- Dan Loeb's Third Stage.
'Everyone speaking'
DuPont and Dow, which have market capitalizations of $58.4 billion and $59 billion respectively, have recently affirmed they were considering alternatives for their agricultural chemicals companies, both that provide genetically altered seeds.
There's been wide spread speculation about possible deals because sector as lower harvest costs check farmer spending, and following Monsanto's bid for Syngenta A G, that was taken in August. Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant said last month that "everybody has been speaking to everybody" in the business.
The split adhering to a Dow DuPont amalgamation would likely call for developing a business focused on agricultural commodities including harvest seeds and pesticides, still another dedicated to specialty chemicals and a third that makes plastics as well as other products, mentioned Hassan Ahmed, a Nyc-based analyst at Alembic Global Advisors. Each would discover cost-savings in the mix and have enhanced scale, he mentioned.
"I believe it is a fantastic move" Ahmed said by telephone Tuesday. "In one clear sweep you get three excellent businesses."
Price economies
Overall price savings would total $3 billion, CNBC mentioned unidentified people familiar with the deal as saying.
Dropping crude oil and feedstock costs have boosted gross margins for petrochemical companies, Anu Agarwal, Singapore-based Asia vice-president at Argus Media, stated in an emailed opinion. Bringing the businesses together would empower them to "derive worth from supplying a a big selection of compounds to worldwide markets," she stated.
Any anti-trust problems might be overcome with small divestitures, in accordance with Ahmed. The Wsj reported that Dow's Liveris is likely to be executive chairman of the combined firm while DuPont CEO Ed Breen would keep that title. Making Breen CEO would match nicely with his power in breaking-up businesses, as he did at Tyco International Ltd., Ahmed stated.
On the basis of the industry values of Dow and DuPont, a merger would likely rank among the five biggest deals announced this year, based on data compiled by Bloomberg. The quantity of mergers and acquisitions in 2015 is currently headed to get a report, the information display.
Automotive News contributed to the report.
Contact Automotive News

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08.12.2015
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