DowDuPont has lifted the veil on the names of the three independent companies that will emerge from the post-merger three-way split now due to take place between the end of the 2019 first quarter and Jun. 1, 2019. 

The split is taking place somewhat later than initially planned, delayed by the longer than anticipated regulatory approval process and a four-month portfolio review prompted by activist shareholders.

Ed Breen, former CEO of DuPont and current chief executive of DowDuPont, said the  selection of the corporate names – two of which match those of their legacy companies –represents “a major milestone in the process of creating three, strong independent companies, and each name reflects the unique strengths and value proposition of the company it will represent.”

With more than $14 billion in 2017 pro forma revenue and $2.6 billion in 2017 pro forma operating EBITDA, the agricultural chemicals company, headquartered at the former DuPont base in Wilmington, Delaware, will be known as Corteva Agriscience, a name said to combine the two elements "heart" and "nature."

DowDuPont said Corteva will have “the most comprehensive and balanced seed and crop protection portfolio in the world and a strong pipeline of new products that will enable it to continue to provide substantial value to farmers now and over the long term.”

The materials science company – largest of the trio with nearly $44 billion in pro forma revenue and $9.1 billion pro forma operating EBITDA – will adopt the name Dow and retain the Dow red diamond as its brand logo, a tribute to the business’s 121-year history. CEO-designate Jim FIttering said the new Dow will leverage its integration and innovation strengths to focus on “three high-growth market verticals” – packaging, infrastructure and consumer care.

With $21 billion in pro forma revenue and $5.3 billion in pro forma operating EBITDA, the new specialty products company will trade as DuPont, carrying forward the former chemical giant’s 215-year legacy. Also headquartered in Wilmington, the company’s portfolio, according to a statement, will “reflect the strength of its technology-driven specialty businesses with highly-differentiated products and solutions that transform industries and everyday life.”

As announced, Materials Science will be the first to be spun off from DowDuPont, separating by the end of the first quarter of 2019, with the two remaining companies due to separate by Jun. 1, 2019.

While some product names will change after the split, DowDuPont said many other products will continue to be sold under their current, widely known brand names.

Former Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris, now executive chairman of DowDuPont, said the merged and soon to be separated entities “are squarely focused on unlocking enhanced cost and growth synergies, delivering on our growth investments and innovation pipeline.”