Nufarm acquires A H Marks Holdings Limited

Nufarm Limited announced on 5 March 2008, that it has acquired A H Marks Holdings Limited (effective immediately), based in Wyke, Bradford, England.

Nufarm's Managing Director, Doug Rathbone, said the acquisition will strengthen Nufarm's global leadership in phenoxy herbicides.

"The addition of the A H Marks business expands our production capacity; enhances our product development opportunities; strengthens our global regulatory position; extends our supply relationships with other major companies; and provides additional brands for our portfolio of phenoxy herbicides".

Phenoxy herbicides represent a global market in excess of USD550 million, making them one of the largest herbicide product segments.  Used for broadleaf weed control in cereal crops, pasture and a range of non-crop and turf applications, there has been strong growth in the segment in recent years.

"Nufarm has been operating at full production capacity for a number of our leading phenoxy products and we are seeing increased opportunities associated with the use of these products in GM crops and glyphosate resistance management programs," Mr Rathbone said.

" A H Marks has important phenoxy herbicide supply positions with a number of global crop protection companies, including a major supply contract with Nufarm.  And its intermediates position in an important category of selective grass herbicides presents new opportunities in another valuable herbicide segment.

The business has suffered from a lack of presence at the branded distribution level and its integration into Nufarm's much broader geographic platform will add significantly to the value that can be extracted from its manufacturing and product positions.

We plan to increase production at the Wyke manufacturing facility and support a number of new product development programs," Mr Rathbone said.

A H Marks has a number of important supply and customer relationships and Nufarm looks forward to bringing the benefits of its broader product development and distribution base to those relationships.

A H Marks is now operating under the 'Nufarm' name.

Nufarm Limited
Wyke, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD12 9EJ, England
Tel +44 (0)1274 691234  Fax +44 (0)1274 691176
E-mail postmaster@ahmarks.com