K+S to sell nitrogen fertilizer distribution unit to EuroChem

K+S AG, Europe’s biggest potash distributor, agreed to sell its nitrogen fertilizer distribution unit to OAO EuroChem in a transaction that values the business at about 140 million euros ($182 million).

K+S anticipates closing the sale of K+S Nitrogen by the end of the second quarter, depending on approval from European Union regulatory authorities, the Kassel, Germany-based company said in an e-mailed statement.

EuroChem, owned Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, purchased parts of BASF SE (BAS)’s Antwerp-based nitrogen fertilizer business for 830 million euros earlier April (AgroNews 2012-4-4). K+S, which is focusing on potash and salt, has an exclusive agreement to sell output from the BASF plants being acquired by EuroChem.

"The acquisition of K+S Nitrogen represents a logical extension to our latest acquisition in Antwerp,” EuroChem Chief Executive Officer Dmitry Strezhnev said in the statement. "It gives us a globally recognized platform and will further secure our competitiveness in important markets globally.”

K+S Nitrogen had earnings before interest and taxes of 69.4 million euros on revenue of 1.16 billion euros in 2011, according to the statement. The sales will generate a book profit 70 million euros to 80 million euros.