Indianapolis, Indiana and Rastatt,
Germany
December 17, 2008
Dow AgroSciences LLC announced today that the acquisition of
the assets of Südwestsaat
GbR (SWS), a hybrid maize company, is now complete. The
acquisition was announced on October 10, 2008.
"We are pleased that the majority of previous SWS GbR employees
have joined Dow AgroSciences now that the acquisition is
complete and will continue to make contributions to the future
success of the Dow AgroSciences European seeds platform," says
Zoë Henderson, Dow AgroSciences business leader for seeds,
traits and oils in Europe. "We look forward to SWS being fully
integrated into the Dow AgroSciences European Seed Business over
the coming months."
The former SWS GbR company focused on breeding, development,
registration and production of high performing maize hybrids for
Europe with sites in France, Hungary, Portugal, as well as
several in Germany. Dow AgroSciences has acquired the assets of
SWS to include all these activities. The addition of SWS will
build greatly upon Dow AgroSciences’ current seeds growth
initiatives for Europe.
Hanover, Germany based
SAATEN-UNION has been the long-standing sales and marketing
partner for SWS. Dow AgroSciences announced today SAATEN-UNION
will be its preferred commercial partner for maize seed on a
long-term basis in Europe.
"This agreement will significantly strengthen the potential
portfolio of maize products that SAATEN-UNION offers to the
market as the agreement includes the future access to Dow
AgroSciences maize hybrids and technologies," said Dethmer
Schuitema, managing director of SAATEN-UNION.
"This gives significant market access for Dow AgroSciences broad
portfolio of maize germplasm and traits. Dow AgroSciences will
benefit from the high quality marketing and sales services that
SAATEN-UNION provides to the maize market in Europe. Dow
AgroSciences also recognises the value of the premium brand
image of SAATEN-UNION," adds Henderson.
Südwestsaat GbR (SWS) was a well-established German based
hybrid maize company. It was founded in 1997 based on the
breeding activities of the three shareholders whose maize
breeding activity traces back to 1912. SWS was owned by three
member companies of SAATEN-UNION GmbH -- Dr. Hans Rolf Späth
GmbH & Co. KG., Fr. Strube Saatzucht GmbH & Co. KG and Nordsaat
Saatzucht GmbH. SWS focused on breeding, development,
registration and production of high performing maize hybrids for
Europe. The main research centre is located at the SWS
headquarters at Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Trials and
seed production are also carried out at multiple European sites.
SAATEN-UNION with its seven subsidiaries is a strongly growing
seed company with a broad range of agricultural crops all over
Europe. The group has around 780 employees and has revenue of
around 175 million euros in the business year 2007/2008.
www.saaten-union.de
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a
top-tier agricultural company that combines the power of science
and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve
what is essential to human progress. Dow AgroSciences provides
innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation
management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology to
serve the world's growing population. Global sales for Dow
AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical
Company, are $3.8 billion. Learn more at
www.dowagro.com
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from
Saaten-Union GmbH /
from
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