The Andersons, Inc. announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the U.S. professional turf business of The Scotts Company, Columbus, Ohio (NYSE: SMG - news). Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter. It includes Scotts' ProTurf®,
Contec(TM), and other brand names, the distribution network, customer lists, and all trademarks,
patents, and copyrights associated with the professional turf market. The transaction does not
include any of Scotts' consumer, grass seed, lawn care services, or horticultural businesses.

The Andersons Professional Turf Products Division sells premium granular fertilizers and control
products to golf courses, lawn care operators, sports fields, and other turf professionals. The
combined Andersons and Scotts professional products business will serve markets from coast to
coast. The acquisition will add more than 40 percent to the revenue of The Andersons Processing
Group, which includes the Professional Turf Products Division.

The Andersons announced in February that it had signed a letter of intent to acquire the business. As part of the acquisition, The Nu-Gro Corporation, Branford, Ontario will acquire Scotts' Canadian professional turf business.

The transaction also includes a long-term supply agreement under which Scotts will use its
proprietary manufacturing processes to produce value-added products for The Andersons and
Nu-Gro.  Rick Anderson, president of The Andersons Processing Group, said, "This is an important step in achieving our goal of becoming the leader in the marketing, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution of golf and other professional turf products in the United States. Prior to the closing, we will focus on the details of merging the businesses, insuring a smooth transition.''

Anderson named Tom Handel general manager of the Professional Turf Products Division. Handel,
a 12-year company veteran who most recently was director of financial services and business
development for the Processing Group, will have strategic and tactical accountability for the newly
combined professional turf products business.

The Andersons Processing Group, based in Maumee, Ohio, has become a benchmark for high
quality and performance in the professional turf industry. The company is recognized as an industry leader in particle size technology with its Tee Time®, Andersons Professional Turf Products(TM), and other granular products. The Andersons is also the leading supplier of exclusive brand fertilizer products to the U.S. consumer lawn and garden market.

The Andersons is a respected leader and dominant regional player in the grain industry. This strong position in its basic businesses has allowed the company to diversify into other agribusiness operations, several processing and manufacturing businesses, and general merchandise retailing. The company has been in operation since 1947.

For further information regarding The Andersons free of charge via fax dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and
enter code ANDE . The Andersons, Inc. can be reached on the Internet at www.andersonsinc.com .  

Company news release
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