William Loomis has made a comeback as one of the key advisors to Terra Industries on its $4.1 billion sale this week to Yara International.

Loomis, the former CEO of Lazard’s US operations, came out of retirement last year to advise Terra when it received a hostile bid from CF Industries. He had been chair of Terra, a maker of nitrogen products sold to the agricultural industry.

It was he who called Morgan Stanley M&A head Robert Kindler to tell him Terra was rejecting the deal, according to public filings.

Living in Santa Barbara, he helped Terra escape CF and its $45.91 cash and stock proposal, then sell itself to Yara for $41.10.

Loomis did not return a call or e-mail.