IFF and DuPont have agreed to the merger of IFF and DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences business in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The deal values the combined company at $45.4 billion on an enterprise value basis, reflecting a value of $26.2 billion for the N&B business based on IFF’s share price as of December 13, 2019.
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both boards of directors, DuPont shareholders will own 55.4 percent of the shares of the new company and existing IFF shareholders will own 44.6 percent. Upon completion of the transaction, DuPont will receive a one-time $7.3 billion special cash payment, subject to certain adjustments.
The combination of IFF and N&B creates a global leader in high-value ingredients and solutions for global food & beverage, home & personal care and health & wellness markets, with estimated 2019 pro forma revenue of more than $11 billion and EBITDA of $2.6 billion, excluding synergies.
Upon closing, the new company’s board of directors will consist of 13 directors: seven current IFF directors and six DuPont director appointees until the annual meeting in 2022, when there will be six directors from each company. Andreas Fibig will continue to be the Chairman of the Board and an IFF appointee, he will also continue as Chief Executive Officer. The company will be headquartered in New York. DuPont Executive Chairman, Ed Breen, will join the board of the combined company as a DuPont appointee and will serve as Lead Independent Director starting June 1, 2021.
The transaction is subject to approval by IFF shareholders and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. As part of the transaction, IFF’s largest shareholder, Winder Investments, has agreed to vote in favor of the transaction. The parties target closing the deal by the end of the first quarter of 2021. IFF and N&B have obtained fully-committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. The combined company is committed to maintaining an investment grade rating.
Greenhill & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are serving as IFF’s financial advisers and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as legal counsel. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Evercore are serving as DuPont’s financial advisers and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel.
