Scotts Professional and Turf-Seed Europe Ltd have announced that they are forming a close collaboration in Europe. The companies will jointly develop a quality range of new turf varieties adapted to the European conditions, based on the best breeding programmes. This will make it possible for Scotts to bring new turf varieties to the golf, sports field and landscape markets, in addition to its unique portfolio of fertilizers and controls. Turf-Seed Europe will benefit from Scotts’ market expertise and field sales force.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world’s leading marketer of branded products for consumer lawn and garden care, has completed the acquisition of certain brands and assets from Turf-Seed, Inc., a leading producer of quality commercial turfgrasses for more than 35 years.
The purchase price for Turf-Seed’s assets and payments, under the six-year term agreements, is expected to total approximately $30 – 35 million. As a result of this joint operation The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is now a large shareholder of Turf-Seed Europe.
Turf-Seed Europe is located in Ireland and is the sales channel for the varieties of Turf-Seed Inc and Tee 2 Green Corp, from the USA. Several varieties distributed by Turf-Seed Europe are representing the standard of high quality recognised by all professional users. The company is focused on the EU market and is fully dedicated to varieties screening and registration, production and marketing, with the goal of offering the best genetics in turf.
Agostino Gaude, managing director of Turf-Seed Europe Ltd, says about the collaboration with Scotts, “Turf-Seed Europe has been successful in launching and distributing high quality genetics to the most prestigious European turf markets. Our distribution network has been crucial to the success of the company in doing this and will be crucial to our success moving forward.
“The new partner in Turf-Seed Europe will provide excellent market knowledge and will strengthen our activities. By working together we have more opportunities to market our genetic materials and increase production. Scotts has a great field sales force and a very strong reputation and position in Europe. This combined with our strengths forms the basis for an exciting programme in the future.”
“The joint operation will greatly strengthen our offering of leading technologies,” comments Fred Bosch, vice president of Scotts Professional. “Scotts has a very strong position in the European turf industry with leading fertilizer brands such as Sierrablen, Sierraform, Greenmaster Pro-Lite and Sportsmaster. We successfully extended our range with leading fungicides and herbicides to improve the quality and health of turf. With a unique product range and the service of our field sales force we offer an integral solution for professional turf managers.
“We are committed to further strengthening our portfolio with excellent turf seed varieties and genetics and believe that the strength of Turf-Seed Europe’s portfolio will give us state-of-the-art material to serve our customers and help them to create the best turf in Europe.”
Scotts Professional www.scottsprofessional.co.uk
Turf-Seed Europe www.turf-seed.com
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