Nearly two years after the initial announcement, DuPont and The Dow Chemical Company said their merger of equals will close August 31 after the market closes. All required regulatory approvals and clearances have been received and all conditions have been satisfied, the companies said.

Shares of Dow and DuPont will cease trading at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on August 31. Shares of DowDuPont will begin trading on the NYSE under the stock ticker symbol “DWDP” on September 1.

The combined company will be named DowDuPont and will result in a $19 billion company with a portfolio that is approximately 50% germplasm and traits and 50% crop protection. The transaction is also expected to result in run-rate cost synergies of approximately $3 billion, which are projected to create approximately $30 billion of market value. Approximately $1 billion in growth synergies are also expected to be achieved.

Following closure, the parties intend to pursue a separation of DowDuPont into three independent, publicly traded companies through tax-free spin-offs as soon as it is feasible — approximately 18-24 months following the closing of the merger, which is subject to regulatory and board approval.

The spun-off companies will include an agriculture company, a material science company and a technology and a specialty products company. Each business will have a clear focus, an appropriate capital structure, a distinct and compelling investment thesis, enhanced global scale advantages and product portfolios and focused investments in innovation to better deliver superior solutions and choices for customers, the companies said when they initially announced the merger.

The corporate headquarters will be located in Wilmington, Del., and will include the office of the chief executive officer and key corporate support functions. Sites in Johnston, Iowa, and Indianapolis, Ind., will serve as global business centers, with leadership of business lines, business support functions, research and development (R&D), global supply chain and sales and marketing capabilities concentrated in the two Midwest locations.

The Agriculture company will be a leading global pure-play Agriculture company that unites the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses from DuPont and Dow. The combined entity is expected to have the most comprehensive and diverse portfolio in the industry and a robust pipeline with exceptional growth opportunities in the near, mid- and long term. The complementary offerings will provide growers across geographies with a broad portfolio of solutions and greater choice. The Agriculture company will be headquartered in Wilmington. In addition, the independent Agriculture company will feature DuPont in the company’s name.

The Material Science company will be a pure-play industrial leader consisting of Dow’s Performance Plastics, Performance Materials & Chemicals, Infrastructure Solutions, Consumer Care and Automotive Solutions (excluding the Dow Electronic Materials business) operating segments, as well as DuPont’s Performance Materials segment. The combination of complementary capabilities is expected to create a low-cost, innovation-driven leader that can provide customers in high-growth, high-value industry segments in packaging, transportation and infrastructure solutions, among others, with a broad and deep portfolio of cost-effective offerings. The Material Science company will be headquartered in Midland, Mich. and will feature Dow in the company’s name.

The Specialty Products company will be a leading global specialty business focused on attractive secular growth markets where innovative science capabilities offer a clear competitive advantage. The company is expected to be composed of four strong businesses that include DuPont’s Nutrition & Health, Industrial Biosciences and Protective Solutions businesses as well as the integration of DuPont’s Electronics & Communications business with Dow’s Electronic Materials business unit. The Specialty Products company also will be headquartered in Wilmington.