Belchim Crop Protection to acquire Engage Agro USA

Belgian company Belchim Crop Protection (Londerzeel) has agreed to acquire the American agrochemical company Engage Agro USA, LLC (based in Prescott, Arizona). The transaction is expected to be closed in the coming days. In December 2016, Belchim already obtained a majority stake of 60% in Engage Agro Corporation, based in Guelph, Ontario (Canada), which established a direct presence for Belchim in the North American crop protection market. The buyout of Engage Agro USA provides a ready-made platform to expand access to USA markets for Belchim’s innovative agrochemical and bio-based product portfolio.

With the purchase of Engage Agro USA, Belchim Crop Protection will gain a specialty crop protection and nutritional products company. Engage Agro USA works with all key distributors across major row and specialty crops, in addition to turf and ornamental segments. The USA has more than 90 million acres of corn and over 550,000 acres of apples, cherries, blueberries and pears, which provides exciting opportunities for the combined portfolios of the two companies. Engage Agro USA is poised for significant growth, leveraging the investments in registrations and development it has made over the past several years. The regulatory know-how and sales expertise of the Belchim group will successfully contribute and safeguard the long-term future of Engage Agro as a promising privately-owned distribution company. Both companies share a commitment to strong customer-focused skills, technical expertise and deeply rooted partnerships with suppliers and other key stakeholders.

Dirk Putteman, CEO of Belchim Crop Protection, says: “These are exciting times: our innovative portfolio of crop protection products in important crops like potatoes, vines, vegetables and corn is expanding globally. We already have strong market positions in EU28 countries. And now we are expanding our market access in North America which gives Belchim a potential for further growth.” Steve Stansell, USA Country Manager, is delighted with this next chapter for Engage Agro USA: “I’m looking forward to new products to add to the already exciting portfolio of Engage Ago USA. I can guarantee that the synergy of both our teams, as we will be part of the Belchim group, will further enhance the successful track record of Belchim.”