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Yara International

Coordinates: 59°54′52.70″N 10°42′54.15″E / 59.9146389°N 10.7150417°E / 59.9146389; 10.7150417
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Yara International ASA
Company typeAllmennaksjeselskap
OSE: YAR
IndustryChemicals
Founded1905
HeadquartersOslo, Norway
Key people
Jørgen Ole Haslestad (President and CEO), Øivind Lund (Chairman)
ProductsNitrogen fertilizers, nitrates
RevenueNOK 65.37 billion (2010)[1]
NOK 12.80 billion (2010)[1]
NOK 8.729 billion (2010)[1]
Total assetsNOK 65.46 billion (end 2010)[1]
Total equityNOK 35.33 billion (end 2010)[1]
Number of employees
7,348 (end 2010)[1]
Websitewww.yara.com

Yara International ASA is a Norwegian-based chemical company. Its largest business area is the production of nitrogen fertilizer,[2][3] however it also encompasses the production of dry ice, nitrates, ammonia, urea and other nitrogen-based chemicals.

The company was established as Norsk Hydro – the world’s first producer of mineral nitrogen fertilizers – in 1905 and demerged as Yara International ASA on March 25, 2004. Yara is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Oslo. The company has about 7,300 employees, with operations in more than 50 countries and sales to over 120.[4]

History

Yara’s history began over a hundred years ago, when Norsk Hydro was founded by industrialists Sam Eyde, Kristian Birkeland and Marcus Wallenberg. Norsk Hydro used Norway’s large hydroelectric-energy resources to produce its first product, mineral fertilizer. The company pioneered direct nitrogen fixation, called the Birkeland-Eyde Process.[citation needed] This contribution to the fertilizer market attracted global attention as the product enabled farmers to boost their yields.

Norsk Hydro was founded on advanced research. This work was driven by a need to diversify and develop new industries. Even though the production of mineral fertilizer was successful, the company expanded into other businesses, from fertilizers to oil and metals.

The company adopted an international perspective early, sending its first shipment to China in 1913. In 1969, Norsk Hydro entered its first joint venture, with authorities in Qatar. With access to a competitive source of gas and a strategic location in the Middle East, the joint venture opened up a global market for the company.

By the 1970s, the company was established in Asia, the Middle East and North America. The late 1970s to the mid-1980s was a period of rapid growth, through the acquisition of major fertilizer companies in France, Germany, Holland and the UK. At the end of the 1990s, the company was also established in Brazil and South Africa.

In 2004, Hydro Agri demerged from Norsk Hydro and became an independent company called Yara International ASA. The company was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange on March 25, 2004.

Since then, Yara has continued to expand its global presence through investments in other countries, such as Canada, Libya, Australia and Switzerland. The company is currently the world's leading provider of mineral fertilizer, with operations in more than 50 countries spread over six continents.

In May, 2011 the company was indicted in Norway, in relation to suspected corruption (grov korrupsjon) in India and Libya.[5]

Ownership in other companies

  • In July 2008, Yara entered into an agreement to acquire Canadian nitrogen producer SaskFerco, completing the deal in October 2008. After this, the fertilizer plant located in Belle Plaine commenced to operate as Yara Belle Plaine Inc.[6]
  • Construction of new Urea7 factory at Sluiskil, Netherlands, started in September 2009

Libyan Norwegian Fertiliser Company B.V.,[7] registered in the Netherlands, is co-owned by "Libyan partners" ... with close ties to Muammar Gaddafi and his clan" (and Yara) according to Dagens Næringsliv.[8] Authorities have frozen the joint venture's bank accounts, in the Netherlands.[9]

Australia

  • An ammonia plant at Burrup, Australia, opened in April 2006. Yara presently[citation needed] holds a 35 percent stake and is involved in litigation with the other share-holder, Pankaj Oswal.
  • The construction of an ammoniumnitrat plant at Burrup, Australia was contracted in 2012, in a joint venture involving Orica and Apache.[10]

Brazil

  • In July 2006, Yara bought a controlling interest in the Brazilian fertilizer distribution and marketing company Fertibras.[11]

Finland

  • In May 2007, Yara bought 30.05 percent of Finnish fertilizer company Kemira GrowHow and successfully tendered an offer to buy the rest.[12]

Libya

Russia

  • Thirty percent of the Russian fertilizer producer OAO Minudobreniya ("Rossosh"), was bought in February 2005.[14] Yara reported the sale of its stake, on August 3, 2011.[15]

Switzerland

In September 2006, Yara bought 50 percent of the Geneva-based trading company Balderton Fertilisers SA.

  • In January 2010, Yara acquired the remaining 50 percent of Balderton Fertilisers.[16]


Nejdet Baysan is a former owner of the company prior to 2012.[17]

UAE

In October 2009, Qafco, in which Yara has 25 percent equity interest, signed a letter of intent for construction of Qafco-6 expansion project. The project includes the construction of a urea plant with a total daily production capacity of 3,850 tons.[18]

Suspected corruption related to Libya

Norwegian authorities were informed by the company in 2011, that the company might have been involved in corruption in advance of negotiations in 2008 (that led to an investment of 1.5 billion Norwegian kroner in a 50 percent share of Libyan Norwegian Fertiliser Company,[19] or LIFECO, in 2009).[20]

Timeline

  • That Norsk Hydro (Yara's previous name) had been involved in possible corruption in the early 2000s, was released (by StatoilHydro) to the press (on the same day that StatoilHydro was formed), October 1, 2007. A payment of 60 million Norwegian kroner to a Libyan pilot's company, Vexol,[21] in South Africa, during the (previous) international boycott of Libya, was discovered by Statoil[22] during a due diligence, and it resulted in the resignation of StatoilHydro's head, E.Reiten, on October 4, 2007. (The pilot, was an agent belonging to a Libyan intelligence agency, according to Dagens Næringsliv.[23])
  • T. Enger was informed by T. Holba about "possible corruption"(mulig korrupsjon)in 2008 (according to Dagens Næringsliv in 2011).[20]
  • J.O. Haslestad was informed by T. Holba about "possible corruption"(mulig korrupsjon)in autumn of 2008 (according to Dagens Næringsliv in 2011).[20] Haslestad and chairman Øivind Lund withheld this information from the rest of the board of directors, until spring 2011.[24]
  • A statement (byYara) about their becoming aware in 2008 of a case of corruption, was released to the press on April 13, 2011.[25] ( An e-mail with 17 questions was sent by Dagens Næringsliv (to Yara), "one and half week in advance".[9])
  • Thorleif Enger[26] and two directors (Tor Holba and Hallgeir Storvik) were arrested on May 18, 2012 as a result of being indicted.[27] (The internal investigators commissioned by the company, had been asked by Økokrim to postpone interviewing Enger.[28]) The arrests were a direct result of a spring 2012 police interview with a former chief of the company's legal department, Ken Wallace.[29]
  • That the company offered bribes to individuals in Libya, was revealed by media on July 3, 2012—contrasting previous statements by Haslestad.[30]

Suspected corruption related to India

A prosecuting authority (Økokrim) formally charged the company in 2011, in relation to alleged corruption involving India.[31]

Two directors (Tor Holba and Hallgeir Storvik) were arrested on May 18, 2012 as a result of being indicted.[32]

Suspected corruption (by Yara) related to Switzerland

In March of 2012, the company's internal investigation uncovered "unacceptable"[33] payments from a company (samarbeidsselskap) in Switzerland, linked to Yara.

Thorleif Enger and two directors (Tor Holba and Hallgeir Storvik) were arrested on May 18, 2012 as a result of being indicted—in part[34] for suspected involvement in acts of corruption in Switzerland.[35]

Investigation by Norwegian- and Swiss police has uncovered payments (several million dollars—linked to Yara) made to Libyan individuals—payments which are suspected to be bribes.[36]

Controversial co-ownership of a Russian factory with a Russian politician

In 2012 Dagens Næringsliv questioned if Yara violated Norwegian law by being a co-owner of a Russian factory, that had a Russian politician —or "someone close to him"[37]—as a co-owner.[38] Nikolai Olshansky—a senator in the region where the factory (OAO Minudobreniya) is located— is the Russian politician that has been implicated.[39]

The factory was owned by Yaibera Holdings (a company headquartered in Cyprus). Coladeco Holdings Co. Ltd.—a company linked to the politician—became a co-owner of Yaibera in 2007, which resulted in the three owners of Yaibera signing a new shareholders' contract.[40]

Controversial consultancy fees to a co-owner of a Russian factory

In 2012 Dagens Næringsliv questioned if Yara violated Norwegian laws, when they paid consultancy fees to a co-owner (Karl Rovt) of a Russian factory.[41]

Chairmen

CEOs

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Yara International. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Mergers in the fertiliser industry". The Economist. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  3. ^ Stigset, Marianne (15 July 2008). "Yara Quarterly Profit Gains Threefold; Buys Plant". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  4. ^ "Yara´s website".
  5. ^ http://e24.no/boers-og-finans/oekokrim-siktede-trer-ut-av-yaras-konsernledelse/20232707 "Yara ble i mai i fjor siktet for grov korrupsjon etter at selskapet selv varslet om mulige ulovlige utbetalinger i forbindelse med selskapets etablering i Libya og et samarbeid om produksjon og salg av gjødsel i India."
  6. ^ "Sale of Saskferco is finalized (press release)". Government of Saskatchewan. October 1, 2008.
  7. ^ http://nos.nl/artikel/229513-nederland-bevriest-libische-tegoeden.html
  8. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet, 2011-04-16, p.53: "Det har opprettet et selskap i Nederland sammen med libyske partnere som skulle vise seg å ha tette forbindelser til Muammar Gadaffi og hans klan."
  9. ^ a b Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet, 2011-04-16, p.53
  10. ^ http://e24.no/boers-og-finans/yara-bygger-milliardfabrikk-down-under/20232764 "Yara har inngått en joint venture-avtale med selskapene Orica og Apache om bygging av en ammoniumnitrat-fabrikk på Burrup-halvøya i Australia, med en kapasitet på 330.000 tonn."
  11. ^ "Timeline: Fertilizer maker Yara's ambitious expansion". Reuters. February 16, 2010.
  12. ^ "2007:Yara announces Kemira GrowHow takeover". Yara's website. 2007.
  13. ^ a b "Yara completes $225 mln Libya fertiliser deal". Reuters. February 9, 2009.
  14. ^ "Yara acquires the minority stake in Russian fertiliser plant". Gasworld.com. February 10, 2005.
  15. ^ "Yara earned 1.4 billion with a mysterious owner. Yara sold its stake in a russian factory manufacturing fertilizers. Among the owners were Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly a central Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). 2012-06-30.
  16. ^ "Yara acquires remaining 50% of Balderton Fertiliser (press release)". Cisionwire. January 28, 2010.
  17. ^ Ånestad, Morten (2012-06-30). "Earned 1.4 billion with mysterious owner. Unknown third party: Thru a Cypriotic company, Yara earned 1.4 billion kroner from selling a Russian fertilizer factory last year. One of the owners was the Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly an important (sentral) Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 8.
  18. ^ "Yara JV Qafco signs letter of intent for expansion". Yara.com.
  19. ^ "Yara completes $225 mln Libya fertiliser deal". Reuters. February 9, 2009.
  20. ^ a b c Dagens Næringsliv, 2011-04-16, p.4
  21. ^ http://e24.no/lov-og-rett/visste-alt/2696508
  22. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet, 2011-04-16, p.57
  23. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,2011-12-31 and 2011-04-16, p.57: "Abdurrazag Gammudi mottok 60 millioner fra Hydro for konsulenttjenester." and "Nyttårsaften 2007 skrev DN at Gammudi var agent i ordets riktige forstand — i den libyske sikkerhetstjenesten — under dens beryktede daværende leder Moussa Koussa."
  24. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/naringsliv/article2403418.ece
  25. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet, 2011-04-16, p.60
  26. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/naringsliv/article2401843.ece
  27. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/borsMarked/article2399982.ece "Saken har forgreninger til selskapets engasjement i Libya og India."
  28. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/borsMarked/article2404343.ece "Men etter det DN kjenner til ba Økokrim granskerne vente med å kalle inn tidligere konsernsjef Enger."
  29. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/naringsliv/article2418959.ece
  30. ^ http://e24.no/lov-og-rett/yara-tilboed-penger-til-libya-kontakter/20249460
  31. ^ http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/05/12/nyheter/libya/yara/korrupsjon/okokrim/16504775/
  32. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/borsMarked/article2399982.ece "Saken har forgreninger til selskapets engasjement i Libya og India."
  33. ^ http://www.aftenposten.no/okonomi/Okokrim-satser-alt-pa-Yara-saken-6836428.html "Mars 2012: Yaras egen granskning har avdekket uakseptable utbetalinger fra et samarbeidsselskap i Sveits."
  34. ^ http://e24.no/boers-og-finans/oekokrim-siktede-trer-ut-av-yaras-konsernledelse/20232707 "Yara ble i mai i fjor siktet for grov korrupsjon etter at selskapet selv varslet om mulige ulovlige utbetalinger i forbindelse med selskapets etablering i Libya og et samarbeid om produksjon og salg av gjødsel i India. - Forholdene omfatter også et tidligere Yara-eid selskap i Sveits."
  35. ^ http://www.aftenposten.no/okonomi/innland/Ventet-tre-ar-med-a-varsle-politiet-6835408.html Waited three years to notify the police]
  36. ^ http://www.dn.no/forsiden/politikkSamfunn/article2427568.ece
  37. ^ "Yara earned 1.4 billion with a mysterious owner. Yara sold its stake in a russian factory manufacturing fertilizers. Among the owners were Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly a central Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). 2012-06-30. "Det skal være den mektige Nikolai Olshansky, eller nærstående til ham, som kontrollerte selskapet Yaibera sammen med Yara og Alex Rovts IBE Worldwide Holdings LLC."
  38. ^ Ånestad, Morten (2012-06-30). "Earned 1.4 billion with mysterious owner. Unknown third party: Thru a Cypriotic company, Yara earned 1.4 billion kroner from selling a Russian fertilizer factory last year. One of the owners was the Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly an important (sentral) Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 8.
  39. ^ "Yara earned 1.4 billion with a mysterious owner. Yara sold its stake in a russian factory manufacturing fertilizers. Among the owners were Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly a central Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). 2012-06-30.
  40. ^ Ånestad, Morten (2012-06-30). "Earned 1.4 billion with mysterious owner. Unknown third party: Thru a Cypriotic company, Yara earned 1.4 billion kroner from selling a Russian fertilizer factory last year. One of the owners was the Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly an important (sentral) Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 8. "- Coladeco kom inn på eiersiden i 2007. Vår eierandel forble uberørt som følge av denne transaksjonen mellom Coladeco og IBE. Det ble i den forbindelse inngått en ny aksjonæravtale."
  41. ^ Ånestad, Morten (2012-06-30). "Earned 1.4 billion with mysterious owner. Unknown third party: Thru a Cypriotic company, Yara earned 1.4 billion kroner from selling a Russian fertilizer factory last year. One of the owners was the Ukrainian multibillionaire Alex Rovt and allegedly an important (sentral) Russian politician". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 8. "I Yara vil en ikke kommentere om konsulentavtalen med Alex Rovt, som Dagens Næringsliv tidligere har omtalt, eller eierskapet i Yaibera sammen med en fremtredende russisk politiker, kommer i konflikt med de norske korrupsjonsbestemmelsene."
  42. ^ http://e24.no/jobb/slik-skjules-loennshoppene/20237179?view=print

External links

Media related to Yara at Wikimedia Commons


59°54′52.70″N 10°42′54.15″E / 59.9146389°N 10.7150417°E / 59.9146389; 10.7150417

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