Bayer CropScience to purchase Crompton´s share of Gustafson seed treatment business

Acquisition for 124 million US Dollar in North America and Mexico

23-Mar-2004

Bayer CropScience LP in the U.S. and Bayer CropScience Inc. in Canada today signed agreements to purchase Crompton Corporation's (NYSE: CK) 50 percent share of the Gustafson seed treatment business in the United States, Canada and Mexico [NAFTA] for the purchase price of U.S.$124 million in cash. The action would give Bayer CropScience, which already holds a 50 percent share of the U.S. and Canadian Gustafson joint ventures, full ownership of Gustafson's NAFTA business, subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter.

Gustafson manufactures and markets seed treatment products and related equipment. Based in Plano, Texas, and Calgary, Canada, the company employs approximately 250 people in the NAFTA region. In 2003, Gustafson sales were approximately U.S.$130 million.

"Purchase of the Gustafson seed treatment business would allow us to participate directly in this increasingly important segment of the NAFTA crop protection markets," said Emil Lansu, President & CEO of Bayer CropScience LP and head of Bayer CropScience for the NAFTA region. According to Lansu, the acquisition would give Bayer CropScience the benefit of the full range of Gustafson's products, including certain products from third parties, which would continue to make up a key component of the Gustafson product portfolio.

"We presently have several strong seed treatment products," Lansu added. "With the Gustafson purchase we look to more fully realize the potential of this business while enhancing our ability to provide solutions for growers."

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/36206/bayer-cropscience-to-purchase-cromptons-share-of-gustafson-seed-treatment-business.html