New business unit structure in Europe

| Source: Yara International ASA Yara International ASA

Oslo (2006-11-03):  Yara International ASA is developing its organizational strengths to meet new challenges ahead. A series of organizational adjustments are being made which will simplify and clarify management responsibility and further strengthen Yara's commercial focus.
 
Yara's Downstream activities in Europe will now be organized as two business units:
 
  •         Business Unit Northern Europe that will include business units currently known as Continental Europe, North Europe and UK. Hermann Kuhlmann is appointed Business Unit Manager, Northern Europe, effective November 1, 2006, with head office in Dülmen, Germany.
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  •         Business Unit Southern Europe that will include business units currently known as France and Mediterranean. Egil Hogna is appointed Business Unit Manager, Southern Europe, effective January 1, 2007 with head office in Paris, France.
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    In addition to the changes in Europe, China has now become a separate business unit and the head office for Latin America has moved from Paris to Sao Paulo, reflecting the growth potential and the need for increased focus in these two key markets. The consolidation of business units will leverage scale, synergies and strategic fit.
     
    Yara's Upstream segment seeks to further improve the effectiveness of Yara's production facilities to meet the company's growth ambitions and to accelerate the implementation of agreed changes throughout the production system. To meet these objectives a new regional plant manager role has been established:
     
    Scandinavia:              Jan Petter Fossum
    The Netherlands:       Mark van Hijfte
    Germany:                  Geert De Raedemaecker
    France:                     François Servantie (as from January 1, 2007)
    Mediterranean:          Hans Goossens (as from January 1, 2007)
    Trinidad:                   Mark Loquan
     
    The regional managers will focus on driving competence and resource sharing and ensuring the maximum synergy effect in their region. Simplification will be key within all functions, such as production, maintenance, purchasing and logistics, and the implementation of best practice and common systems will be enforced across the region. 
     
    Yara's Supply & Trade unit has established a new Optimization and Logistics organization in Brussels, substituting the old planning function. Dion Willems has been selected to head the new organization, with Jean-Paul Beens as responsible for the optimization unit as well as maintaining his responsibilities with EFMA.
     
    Dag Willoch has been recruited as part of the strengthening of Yara's Supply & Trade activities. He will be head of Global Energy, which is responsible for the development and implementation of Yara's global energy policy. Willoch, who has recent experience from the Oslo Stock Exchange, Handelsbanken and Kapital magazine, joins Yara on February 1, 2007.
     
     
     
    Torgeir Kvidal, Investor Relations
    Telephone  (+47) 24 15 72 95
    Cellular (+47) 91 339 832
    E-mail torgeir.kvidal@yara.com
     
    Hamed Brodersen, Media Relations
    Cellular (+47) 40 468 110
    E-mail hamed.mozaffari.brodersen@yara.com
     
     
    Yara International ASA is a leading chemical company that converts energy and nitrogen from the air into essential products for farmers and industrial customers. As the number one global supplier of mineral fertilizers and agronomic solutions, we help provide food for a growing world population. Our industrial product portfolio includes environmental protection agents that safeguard air and water purity and preserve food quality. Yara's global workforce of 7000 employees represents great diversity and talent enabling Yara to remain a leading performer in its industry.
    www.yara.com