Arysta Bidding News

By Scott C. Lucas|18 October 2007

Advantage Partners LLP, Japan’s biggest buyout fund, is another name among the firms that have put in offers to buy Arysta from investors led by Olympus Capital Holdings Asia, a Hong Kong-based private- equity firm.

Tokyo-based Arysta ranks as the 10th largest agrochemical maker in the world by market share, with operations in 125 countries.

Within the ag-chem industry, there have been rumors that several players have considered bidding for the company. United Phosphorus Ltd., has submitted a bid. S. Krishnan, its chief financial officer, said he had nothing to add to what the company had told stock exchanges last week which confirmed UPL’s interest. Robert Reis, a spokesman for Australia-based generica manufacturer Nufarm, said that “we have a potential interest in the business.” Rumors have also linked Arysta to Makhteshim Again Industries.

In addition, FCI heard several rumors in Glasgow at BCPC that the current asking price was becoming unreasonable, in the area of double Arysta’s annual sales.