Empresas y finanzas

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. Will Acquire 50 Percent Ownership In KEYTRADE AG, Leading Global Fertilizer Trader



    CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF) and KEYTRADE AG today
    announced that CF Industries has agreed to acquire a 50 percent
    ownership position in KEYTRADE AG, a 3 million tonne per year global
    fertilizer trading organization headquartered near Zurich,
    Switzerland. Purchase price for the acquisition, which is expected to
    close in the fourth quarter of 2007, will be CHF 30 million, or
    approximately U.S. $25 million.

    "We are excited to be combining the capabilities of CF Industries
    and KEYTRADE. CF Industries has had a long, constructive relationship
    with Melih Keyman, the chairman and chief executive officer of
    KEYTRADE, and with his partners and team," commented Stephen R.
    Wilson, chairman and chief executive officer of CF Industries
    Holdings, Inc.

    "We look forward to working together to expand our businesses for
    the benefit of all our shareholders. This strategic partnership
    provides CF Industries with a global platform from which to pursue our
    objectives of growth and diversification," Wilson added.

    "From KEYTRADE's perspective, this partnership will help ensure
    growth potential beyond our trading activities. With our new strategic
    partner, we believe that KEYTRADE will be able to serve the needs of
    our trading partners much better with wider product support,"
    commented Melih Keyman, chairman and chief executive officer of
    KEYTRADE.

    "We, too, are excited at the prospect of combining our global
    trading system with CF Industries' strong production base and
    international aspirations," Keyman added.

    Keyman, a founder of KEYTRADE, will continue as CEO of the company
    and will run the organization on a day-to-day basis together with his
    founding partners Andreas Vaterlaus, Sergei Rudakov, and Yang Baoheng.

    KEYTRADE, founded in 1997, buys fertilizer, primarily nitrogen
    products but also phosphate and potash, in 35 countries and markets it
    in 65 countries. The company has extensive commercial relationships in
    both fertilizer supply and market regions.

    Initially, CF Industries will work exclusively with KEYTRADE to
    export phosphate fertilizer and import UAN solution. The companies are
    exploring additional opportunities to work together, including
    sourcing other products to serve the North American market and
    establishing production, distribution, and/or marketing presence in
    attractive markets overseas.

    Closing of the acquisition is subject to certain foreign
    regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain statements contained in this release may constitute
    "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities
    laws. All statements in this release, other than those relating to
    historical information or current condition, are forward-looking
    statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number
    of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control,
    which could cause actual results to differ materially from such
    statements. These risks and uncertainties include: the relatively
    expensive and volatile cost of North American natural gas; the
    cyclical nature of our business; our history of losses; the nature of
    our products as global commodities; intense global competition in the
    consolidating markets in which we operate; conditions in the U.S.
    agricultural industry; weather conditions; our inability to accurately
    predict seasonal demand for our products; the concentration of our
    sales with certain large customers; the impact of changing market
    conditions on our forward pricing program; the significant risks and
    hazards against which we may not be fully insured; reliance on third
    party transportation providers; unanticipated consequences related to
    future expansion of our business; our inability to expand our
    business, including the significant resources that could be required;
    potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental and
    health and safety laws and regulations; our inability to obtain or
    maintain required permits and governmental approvals; acts of
    terrorism; difficulties in securing the raw materials we use; changes
    in global fertilizer supply and demand; loss of key members of
    management and professional staff; and the other risks and
    uncertainties included from time to time in our filings with the
    Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to
    update or revise any forward-looking statements.

    About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield,
    Illinois, is the holding company for the operations of CF Industries,
    Inc. CF Industries, Inc. is a major producer and distributor of
    nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer products. CF Industries operates
    world-scale nitrogen fertilizer plants in Donaldsonville, Louisiana
    and Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; conducts phosphate mining and
    manufacturing operations in Central Florida; and distributes
    fertilizer products through a system of terminals, warehouses, and
    associated transportation equipment located primarily in the
    midwestern United States.

    About KEYTRADE AG

    KEYTRADE AG, headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, is a leading
    global fertilizer trading organization. Through its eight offices
    worldwide, it buys fertilizer products in 35 nations, selling them in
    65 nations. Founded in 1997, KEYTRADE trades approximately 3 million
    tonnes of fertilizer, primarily nitrogen, each year. The firm has
    subsidiaries in the U.S. (KEYTRADE North America Inc.) and, through
    KEYTRADE Poland, S.A., a subsidiary in Poland (KEYTRADE Polska).