DuPont to Split Into Three Companies, CEO Breen Resigns
On Wednesday, DuPont announced plans to separate into three publicly traded companies. The Electronics and Water businesses will become independent companies, with the remainder of the company to comprise New DuPont. The splits are expected to be complete within 18 to 24 months, and do not require shareholder approval, the company said.
“The three-way separation will unlock incremental value for shareholders and customers and also create new opportunities for employees. Critically, each company will have greater flexibility to pursue their own focused growth strategies, including portfolio enhancing M&A,” said Ed Breen, DuPont’s executive Chairman and CEO.
New DuPont
The future New DuPont, including brands such as Tyvek, Kevlar and Nomex, will have a strong presence in healthcare (including applications for biopharma consumables, medical devices, and medical packaging) as well as advanced mobility (particularly electric vehicles) and safety, construction and aerospace. The businesses of the new entity generated net sales of approximately $6.6 billion and operating EBITDA margin of approximately 24% in 2023.
Electronics
The new Electronics entity will be a leading global provider of differentiated electronics materials including key consumables used in semiconductor chip manufacturing, as well as advanced electronic materials. As key end markets DuPont cites AI, high speed connectivity, smart and autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things, among other mega-trend growth drivers.
Electronics will be comprised of the existing Semiconductor Technologies and Interconnect Solutions lines of business, as well as the electronics-related product lines from Industrial Solutions. These businesses generated net sales of approximately $4.0 billion and operating EBITDA margin of approximately 29% in 2023.
Water
The future Water company will have a comprehensive portfolio of water filtration and purification solutions with leading technologies in reverse osmosis, ion exchange and ultrafiltration, catering to a variety of market segments including industrial water and energy, life sciences and specialties, municipal and desalination, and residential and commercial.
Water will be comprised of DuPont’s current Water Solutions line of business which generated net sales of approximately $1.5 billion and operating EBITDA margin of approximately 24% in 2023.
Koch Appointed as Next DuPont CEO
In separate news issued on the same day, DuPont announced that Lori Koch, currently the company’s CFO, will become CEO and director of the new DuPont effective Jun. 1. Koch will succeed Ed Breen, who becomes full-time executive chairman on that date. Antonella Franzen, currently CFO of DuPont’s water and protection segment, has additionally been named CFO of the entire company effective Jun. 1.
