The family owned international grass seed company Barenbrug announces the retirement of Mr. H.J.M. (Bert) Barenbrug, after a career with the Barenbrug Group of over 34 years. Mr. Barenbrug will hand over his position as President/CEO of Barenbrug Holding to Mr. Kees A. Bleeker on March 1^st, 2002.

Bert Barenbrug began his career in 1968 in Germany. In 1975 he was appointed as a member of the board of the Barenbrug Group. When his father, Mr. J.J. Barenbrug, retired from his position as Chairman of the Board in 1981, Bert Barenbrug was appointed to this position. After March 1^st, 2002 he will remain associated with the company as a member of the Supervisory Board and as main shareholder.

Under Bert Barenbrug’s management the Barenbrug Group developed into an international leading company in the grass seed industry. In particular his entrepreneurial skills and his passion for the grass seed business greatly contributed to the development of the Group. Believing in research as the driving force behind newer and better varieties, he has invested heavily in research stations in all major climate zones in the world. This resulted in a broad portfolio of grass varieties, adapted to any circumstance and climate. Over the last decades, the Barenbrug Group has become a high quality grass seed specialist, recognized all over the world.

Mr. Kees Bleeker (52) has had a long-standing career with Hydro Agri, a Norwegian owned Fertilizer Company. In his last position, Kees Bleeker was responsible for the Mediterranean Division of Hydro Agri. He will bring to the Barenbrug Group a broad experience in operating a multi-national company in the quickly changing world of agriculture.

The Barenbrug Group is an international company, whose major activities are plant breeding, seed production and worldwide marketing of grass seed and seed for forage crops. With 25 subsidiaries on five continents and 560 employees, Barenbrug realizes a turnover of US$ 150 million and is one of the largest grass seed companies in the world. Barenbrug’s North America’s division has its headquarters in Tangent, Oregon. Its US subsidiaries are: Barenbrug USA (Tangent, OR), Barenbrug USA Production (Boardman, OR and Imbler, OR), Barenbrug Colorado (Gilcrest, CO) and Research stations in Albany, OR and Haymarket, VA.