Methanex Corporation (Methanex) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire OCI Global’s (OCI) international methanol business for $2.05 billion. The transaction includes OCI’s interest in two world-scale methanol facilities in Beaumont, Texas, one of which also produces ammonia. The transaction also includes a low-carbon methanol production and marketing business and a currently idled methanol facility in the Netherlands.

“This is a unique opportunity to create value by acquiring two highly attractive North American methanol assets that will further strengthen our global production base and we expect it will be immediately accretive to free cash flow per share,” said Rich Sumner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Methanex. “The Beaumont plants benefit from access to North America’s abundant and favourably-priced supply of natural gas feedstock, and are expected to increase our global methanol production by over 20 percent.”

“We believe the transaction will provide significant long-term value to Methanex shareholders while aligning with our strategic objectives of industry leadership, operational excellence, and financial resiliency,” said Mr. Sumner. “From an operating perspective, we have a shared culture of safety and operational excellence, and we expect the OCI team will help us build new skills in ammonia while enhancing our capabilities in the evolving business of low carbon methanol production and marketing.”

Nassef Sawiris, Executive Chairman of OCI, added, “We are pleased with the opportunity to achieve a significant ownership position and are highly confident in Methanex’s ability to create enduring value for shareholders. As the global leader committed to safety and operational excellence, we identified Methanex as the natural owner of OCI Methanol at the outset of our strategic process, which we initiated in the spring of 2023.”

As part of the transaction, Methanex expects to achieve approximately $30 million of annual cost synergies from lower logistics costs and lower selling, general and administrative expenses. Methanex anticipates low integration costs because of OCI’s similar operating model and expects that additional value can be obtained by applying its global expertise and extensive operational experience to the OCI assets. Methanex plans to integrate key operational practices at the facilities and will incorporate the OCI assets into its global risk-based management processes including turnaround and capital planning post-closing.

As part of the transaction, Methanex will acquire the following:

• A methanol facility in Beaumont, Texas with an annual production capacity of 910,000 tonnes of methanol and 340,000 tonnes of ammonia. This plant was restarted in 2011 and since that time the plant has been upgraded with $800 million of capital for full site refurbishment and debottlenecking.

• A 50 percent interest in a second methanol facility also in Beaumont, Texas, operated by the joint venture Natgasoline LLC (“Natgasoline”). The Natgasoline plant was commissioned in 2018 and has an annual capacity of 1.7 million tonnes of methanol, of which Methanex’s share will be 850,000 tonnes.

• OCI HyFuels, which produces low-carbon methanol and sells industry-leading volumes with trading and distribution capabilities for renewable natural gas (RNG). With nine years of experience in the low-carbon methanol business and with an array of blue-chip customers, this will enhance Methanex’s existing Low Carbon Solutions function with additional expertise in this developing segment.

• A methanol facility in Delfzijl, Netherlands with an annual capacity to produce 1 million tonnes of methanol. This facility is not currently in production due to unfavourable pricing for natural gas feedstock.

Dean Richardson, Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer of Methanex, said, “We expect the acquisition to add incremental annual Adjusted EBITDA of $275 million to our expected run-rate Adjusted EBITDA of $850 million at a $350/MT realized methanol price1. We remain firmly committed to maintaining financial flexibility and have in place a robust financing plan that will support de-levering to our target range of 2.5 to 3.0 times debt/Adjusted EBITDA within approximately 18 months from closing, assuming an average realized price of $350/MT. The plan includes the repayment of our $300 million bond as scheduled in December 2024.”

Ahmed El Hoshy, CEO of OCI, said, “This is an outstanding strategic fit for Methanex. We look forward to working closely with Methanex’s management to fully integrate the business after closing, and to ensure continuity and successful stewardship of the business.”

Under a definitive agreement with OCI, the $2.05 billion purchase price will consist of $1.15 billion in cash, the issuance of 9.9 million common shares of Methanex valued at $450 million (based on a $45 per share price) and the assumption of $450 million in debt and leases.

The transaction is also subject to approval by a simple majority of the shareholders of OCI. The largest shareholder of OCI, has signed an agreement to vote for the transaction.

Methanex’s financial advisors for the transaction were Deutsche Bank and RBC Capital Markets. McCarthy Tétrault, Baker McKenzie, Loyens & Loeff N.V. and Reed Smith acted as legal counsel for Methanex. Deutsche Bank and RBC Capital Markets provided fairness opinions to Methanex’s Board of Directors.