Divestment of Natural Colors to EQT closed as of March 31, 2021
Chr. Hansen Holding A/S and EQT today announced the completion of the transaction announced on September 26, 2020, whereby EQT and Chr. Hansen Holding A/S entered into an agreement with the purpose of EQT to acquire the Natural Colors division from Chr. Hansen Holding A/S.
The divestment follows the 2025 Strategy of Chr. Hansen becoming a differentiated bioscience company with focus on the microbial and fermentation technology platforms. The total consideration for the transaction is EUR 800 million on a cash and debt free basis which Chr. Hansen has already received. Transfer of business activities is completed, however, the full legal transition in a few countries will be finalized during the coming months.
Financial implications
The proceeds from the divestment will be used to reduce the leverage of Chr. Hansen. Also, as announced in connection with the Annual General Meeting on November 25, 2020, Chr. Hansen intends to pay out an extraordinary dividend at least equal to a normalized ordinary dividend for 2019/20, and will initiate the standard process for paying out extraordinary dividends. More information on the timing of the extraordinary dividend can be expected in connection with the Q2 announcement on April 15, 2021.
The one-off profits from the transaction, which is the difference between the book value of the transferred assets and liabilities and the transaction value received, will be accounted for as part of the profits from discontinued operations in Q3. The impact is estimated to be around EUR 650 million after taxes and transaction costs associated with the divestment.
The divestment covers business operations with asset transfers in more than 30 countries including transfer of 5 separate corporate entities and around 600 employees. Consistent with the transaction agreement, Chr. Hansen undertakes to provide various transition services for a period of up to two years to Natural Colors/EQT to ensure continuity of Natural Color business activities. The costs associated with Chr. Hansen corporate activities in Natural Colors that are not transferred to EQT will be partly covered by the fees from the transition services agreements, and will not impact the guidance on EBIT margin b.s.i. for this year.
Chr. Hansen es una empresa global y diferenciada de biociencia que desarrolla soluciones con ingredientes naturales para las industrias de alimentación y nutrición, farmacéutica y agrícola. En Chr. Hansen, nos encontramos en una posición privilegiada para impulsar el cambio positivo mediante soluciones microbianas. Desde hace casi 150 años, trabajamos para facilitar la agricultura sostenible, alimentos mejores y una vida más sana para más personas de todo el mundo. Nuestras plataformas de tecnología microbiana y fermentativa, incluida nuestra amplia colección de unas 50.000 cepas microbianas, tienen potencial para marcar un antes y un después. Al satisfacer las necesidades de los clientes y las tendencias internacionales, seguimos revelando el poder de las bacterias beneficiosas para responder a dificultades globales, como el desperdicio de alimentos, la salud en el mundo y el uso excesivo de antibióticos y plaguicidas. Como empresa de biotecnología más sostenible del mundo, llegamos a más de mil millones de personas cada día. Con el respaldo de nuestro legado de innovación y curiosidad para impulsar la ciencia, nuestro propósito de cultivar un mundo mejor naturalmente, «Grow a better world. Naturally», está en la esencia de todo lo que hacemos.
