WYRZ.org 98.9 WYRZ – The Voice of Hendricks County
INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 19, 2016) – DuPont (NYSE: DD) and The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced the U.S. site structure for the global agriculture leader the companies intend to create following the planned separation of DowDupont into three independent, publicly traded companies.
The corporate headquarters for the Agriculture company will be located in Wilmington, Delaware, and will include the office of the CEO and key corporate support functions. Sites in Indianapolis and Johnston, Iowa, will also serve as Global Business Centers, with leadership of business lines, business support functions, R&D, global supply chain, and sales and marketing capabilities concentrated in the two Midwest locations.
“Dow and DuPont have played integral roles in shaping the success of Indiana’s economy, and we are proud that Indiana will play a key role in their new future,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Hoosier farmers have driven innovation in agriculture that radiates throughout the state, advancing research, growth and job creation across industries like life sciences and technology. I’m grateful for the confidence that Dow and DuPont have placed in our people and for the collaboration with city officials that made this exciting announcement possible. With the announcement of this Global Business Center for the new DowDuPont, Hoosiers can be assured our state will continue to play a leading role in the future of this exciting new company.”
The Agriculture company will be the largest of its kind globally. As a result of the state’s and city’s negotiations with the two companies’ leadership teams over the past several weeks, along with support from Indiana’s congressional delegation, a significant portion of the Agriculture company will be based in Indiana.
“We were impressed by the commitment put forth by the city and state and their focus on maintaining a hub of innovation in Indianapolis,” said Tim Hassinger, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences. “We have a proud history of being part of this community for more than 26 years. Being a Global Business Center for the new Agriculture company maintains a strong focus on agricultural R&D innovation in Indiana and near our customers. We thank the local, state and federal officials for their efforts in working through this process.”
Indianapolis is currently home to Dow AgroSciences on the city’s northwest side. With quality, high-paying jobs, the company offers highly-skilled, competitive employment for Hoosiers across its research and development, sales and marketing teams. With the establishment of this global business center, long-term revenue and commensurate employment are expected to grow in Indianapolis.
Agriculture operations across DuPont and Dow totaled roughly $18 billion in 2015. Crop protection operations alone accounted for approximately 80 percent of Dow AgroSciences’ total revenue, which totaled $6.4 billion, in 2015. Crop protection is expected to represent 50 percent of the new agriculture company’s revenue.
“I am grateful that the merger includes a continued, sustained presence in Indianapolis, and am optimistic about the further growth of DowDuPont in our community,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We look forward to ongoing conversations with their management team, and will be aggressive in our efforts to attract even more jobs to Indianapolis.”
Announced in December 2015, the DowDuPont merger is expected to close during the second half of 2016, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The new company plans to establish three independent, publicly traded companies focused on agriculture, material science and specialty products after the merger close.
