The Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX: SM1) share price is racing higher today.
Shares in the New Zealand-based dairy processing company closed on Friday trading for 62.5 cents. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 74.0 apiece, up 18.4%.
For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.4% at this same time.
Here's what's grabbing ASX investor interest.
Synlait Milk share price rockets on divestment news
The Synlait Milk share price is surging following the release of the company's full-year FY 2025 results and a major divestment announcement.
First, turning to the divestment, Synlait said it has entered into a binding conditional agreement to sell its North Island assets to Abbott, a global healthcare provider that has been a customer of Synlait since 2020.
The divestment is estimated to deliver around NZ$307 million (AU$270.2 million) to the company.
Synlait chairman George Adams said the major asset sale is a "defining moment" for the ASX dairy stock.
"The sale will strengthen the company's financial position, with the proceeds used to significantly reduce debt," he said.
Adams added:
We are equally pleased Abbott will onboard the vast majority of our people who work in these assets at completion – that is a great outcome. This valuable reset presents Synlait with a rich opportunity to move beyond crises to planning a real and vibrant future.
"The North Island sale is a much-needed step change for Synlait," CEO Richard Wyeth said of the divestment that's sending the Synlait Milk share price soaring today.
Wyeth noted:
In short, this sale will deliver a stronger, simpler, and more secure Synlait. It enables us to, in time, explore opportunities to diversify what we do and better enable Synlait to reach its full potential.
Synlait said that its majority shareholder, Bright Dairy Holding Limited, which owns 65.25% of the company, has said it will vote in favour of the divestment. So, the shareholder approval condition already looks to be locked in.
The Synlait board said it fully supports the North Island sale and recommends shareholders vote in favour.
Synlait is aiming to complete the sale by 1 April.
What else is happening with the ASX dairy share?
Atop the major divestment news, the Synlait Milk share price is also under scrutiny following the release of the company's FY 2025 results covering the 12 months to 31 July.
Highlights include a NZ$54.8 million year-on-year increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to NZ$50.7 million. Underlying EBITDA of NZ$107.2 million was up by NZ$62.0 million.
Net debt came down 55% from FY 2024 to NZ$250.7 million, while operating cash flow of NZ$165.5 million surged 451%. Revenue of NZ$1.8 billion was up 12%.
On the bottom line, the statutory loss of NZ$39.8 million represented a NZ$143.3 million improvement from FY 2024. On an underlying basis, Synlait reported a net profit after tax of NZ$800,000, up NZ$62.1 million year on year.
Commenting on the results, Wyeth said:
The numbers we are presenting today reflect the impact of manufacturing challenges at Dunsandel. These issues, which are now largely behind us, were complex and impacted our ability to continually deliver product on time, in spec, and at scale.
With today's big intraday lift factored in, the Synlait Milk share price is up 95% since this time last year.
