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UPDATE 2-Methanex to acquire OCI's methanol business in $2.05 bln deal

Reuters·09/09/2024 01:47:01
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UPDATE 2-Methanex to acquire OCI's methanol business in $2.05 bln deal

Adds details from OCI's statement in paragraphs 3-4, background in paragraphs 5-6

- Canadian methanol producer Methanex MX.TO said on Sunday it will acquire Dutch green fuel-maker OCI Global's OCI.AS methanol business in a $2.05 billion deal.

The deal includes $1.15 billion in cash, the issuance of 9.9 million shares of Methanex valued at $450 million, the methanol producer said, adding that it is taking on about $450 million in debt and leases.

OCI will become the second-largest shareholder of Methanex, with about 13% of the company, OCI said in a separate statement, adding that the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

The divestment of OCI's stake in the methanol business will increase the gross proceeds of its assets to $11.6 billion, it added.

The Dutch-listed company has been selling assets as it seeks to reduce debt, unlock more cash for shareholders and focus on greener chemicals such as lower-carbon ammonia.

OCI sold its clean ammonia project in Texas to Australia's Woodside Energy WDS.AX for $2.35 billion earlier last month. Last year, it also agreed to sell its stake in Iowa Fertilizer Company (IFCO) to Koch Ag & Energy Solutions for $3.6 billion.




(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

((Gnaneshwar.Rajan@thomsonreuters.com;))