DSM to Sell Agro and Melamine Businesses

For DSM the intended sale of both business groups is an important step forward in the realization of its Vision 2010 ambitions to focus on Life Sciences and Materials Sciences.

30 Mar 2010 --- Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, and Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) announce that they have reached an agreement for the sale of DSM Agro and DSM Melamine to OCI for EUR 310 million on a cash and debt-free basis with effect from 1 January 2010. The intended sale is expected to close in Q2 2010, subject to regulatory and other customary approvals and notifications.

For DSM the intended sale of both business groups is an important step forward in the realization of its Vision 2010 ambitions to focus on Life Sciences and Materials Sciences. The transformation of DSM’s portfolio is an important prerequisite for achieving these ambitions. As announced in September 2007, DSM Agro and DSM Melamine do not fit with this focus.

With the acquisition of DSM Agro, the OCI Fertilizer Group expands its customer base in key European markets to which the group will be able to offer a wider range of products including urea, ammonia, Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), and ammonium sulphate (AS). OCI believes that healthy synergies exist through a wider product portfolio and distribution infrastructure in Europe.

OCI will assume responsibility for the business results of DSM Agro and DSM Melamine from 1 January 2010 onwards. OCI fully supports DSM’s strategy and approach on the Chemelot site in Sittard-Geleen (Netherlands), where the main facilities of both business groups are located. Via DSM Agro and DSM Melamine OCI will become an indirect shareholder in Sitech Services B.V. and will consequently make use of synergies in site and manufacturing services and participate in infrastructural site investments.

Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, said: “The intended sale of DSM Agro and DSM Melamine is a very important step in DSM’s transformation towards a Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company. Reshaping our portfolio is a main building block of our Vision 2010 strategy.”

Nico Gerardu, member of the DSM Managing Board and responsible for the Base Chemicals and Materials cluster, gave the following comment: “In OCI DSM has found an excellent new owner for DSM Agro and DSM Melamine. The strategic fit of both business groups with OCI is strong, which will provide a sound basis for a prosperous future for these businesses. DSM welcomes OCI on the Chemelot site and is pleased to be able to continue its industrial park site concept. I would like to thank all DSM Agro and DSM Melamine employees for their ongoing support and substantial contribution to DSM.”

Nassef Sawiris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OCI, commented: “The acquisition of DSM Agro and DSM Melamine fits perfectly in our strategy to become among the global leaders in fertilizer production and distribution. It provides us with a strong position in the fertilizer market in Northwest Europe, further product and geographic diversification as well as a leading position in the melamine market worldwide, which as a downstream activity to urea provides a new area of growth for our company. I look forward to welcoming the employees of both business groups to the OCI group. Together we will continue to deliver exceptional value for our customers and shareholders.”

DSM Agro and DSM Melamine together employ 779 people. DSM Agro is a producer of ammonia and high-nitrogen fertilizers for grasslands and agricultural crops and the market leader in the Netherlands. It also ranks among the market leaders in Germany, France and Belgium. DSM Agro, which operates a production site in Sittard-Geleen, produces about 1.6 million tons of fertilizers per year. DSM Agro realized net sales of EUR 338 million in 2009.

DSM Melamine is the world’s largest producer of melamine. The main application of melamine is in wood-based panels and laminates used for furniture and flooring. DSM Melamine has a plant in the Netherlands and also produces melamine in joint ventures in China (DSM 49%) and Indonesia (DSM 60%). In 2009 DSM Melamine realized net sales of EUR 151 million.

The OCI Fertilizer Group now ranks among the top 10 nitrogen-based fertilizer producers worldwide in terms of production capacity. It has 2 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer capacity in Egypt. In 2010/2011 the fertilizer complex in Algeria in partnership with state-owned Sonatrach expects to commission its state-of-the-art fertilizer complex which boasts an annual production capacity of 2 million tons. With production from Algeria, the upgrade of the urea production facilities in Egypt and new investments in derivatives such as ammonium sulphate and UAN the OCI Fertilizer Group will achieve an annual production capacity of approximately 5 million tons of nitrogen-based fertilizers.

Since 2008, DSM Agro and DSM Melamine have been grouped in the Base Chemicals and Materials cluster together with a number of other activities that do not fit in with DSM’s strategic focus. The selling process for most of the remaining businesses in this cluster is underway.

For reporting purposes, DSM Agro and DSM Melamine will be reclassified from the Base Chemicals and Materials cluster to assets held for sale at the end of Q1 2010. The businesses will be valued at fair value less costs to sell upon reclassification which is expected to result in a small loss which will be reported as an exceptional item in Q1 2010.

The intended sale is dependent on regulatory and other customary approvals and notifications and will be submitted to the works councils according to the usual procedures in the Netherlands. One day before the closing, all employees in DSM Agro and DSM Melamine will be transferred to DSM Agro B.V. and DSM Melamine B.V., the companies to be acquired by OCI, in accordance with Dutch regulations.