Arysta LifeScience Buys Tsunami

Posted by Matt Hopkins|16 February 2010

CARY, North Carolina, US — For several years, Arysta LifeScience has been expanding its role in South Africa, says Linda Frerichs, head of global communications, Arysta LifeScience. So when AFGRI announced plans to divest all businesses that fell outside its core business — the value chain of corn production — Arysta grabbed Tsunami. The company will acquire selected assets of Tsunami Plant Protection and the business and selected assets of Tsunami Crop Care.

“Arysta LifeScience believes it is important to continue to add more value-added products to its portfolio to better serve its customers,” Frerichs said in an e-mail interview with Farm Chemicals International on Feb.11. “Tsunami is a medium-sized agrochemical business in the Republic of South Africa, with a broad product portfolio and development pipeline. It has established a fair market position in key maize- and fruit-growing areas by cultivating close customer relationships and building a highly competitive product portfolio.

“Both parties believe the combined businesses will better serve their customers by expanding the product portfolio and the geographic reach of their footprint, growing the technical capability of the two firms, and strengthening supplier relationships,” Frerichs continued. “Ultimately, the combined companies will help Arysta LifeScience better serve the broader African market.”

Arysta LifeSciences already has a presence in South Africa as one of the only major agrochemical companies with production facilities on the African continent. “Arysta LifeScience South Africa opened a state-of-the-art, ISO 9000-certified liquid formulation facility in Canelands, just north of Durban, in 2007,” Frerichs said. “The facility was expanded to meet increasing demand in 2009. The plant also is equipped with water-dispersible granule (WDG) technology, which is especially beneficial to the management practices of sugar cane farmers.”

Financial details have not yet been disclosed, as the companies are waiting for the final review and approval from The Republic of South Africa Competition Commission, and the satisfaction of other closing conditions, Frerichs said.