Lavoro group announces the acquisitions of Casa Trevo and CATR

Continuing its expansion strategy in Brazil, Lavoro, the largest distributor of agricultural inputs in Latin America, has just announced the acquisitions* of Casa Trevo Comercial Agrícola and CATR Comercial Agrícola.

Both companies belong to the AZ Group andare located in the city of Nova Prata, in Rio Grande do Sul, specializing in the distribution of agricultural inputs and in the dissemination of technologies for resellers, cooperatives and cereal producers in the state. Founded in 1973, Casa Trevo operates under the Agroceres and Bayer brands, while CATR, which started its operations in 2006, operates under the BASF brand.

″We are very proud in welcoming Casa Trevo and CATR to the Lavoro group. The main purpose of these acquisitions is to indicate our arrival in Rio Grande do Sul, a region in which we did not operate until now and one that is extremely relevant for Brazilian agribusiness. Our goal is to double the business for both companies in the next four years by strengthening the sales team and providing a geographic expansion″, says Marcelo Abud, CEO of Lavoro.  With these operations, the Lavoro group is now becoming the largest redistributor of agricultural inputs in Brazil.

In 2021, the new investees obtained over BRL 200 million in revenue from the sale of agricultural inputs, serving over 450 customers (80% of them being resellers). The Rio Grande do Sul companies co-own a corporate office and two distribution centers in Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul. The field team consists of over 12 salespeople and six technical assistants.

The acquisitions of Casa Trevo and CATR are in line with the business strategy of the Lavoro group, which includes organic growth through the opening of new stores and the acquisition of companies that are in synergy with the company.

Among the acquisitions and mergers made since 2017 to form Lavoro are the following networks: Lavoro Agrocomercial, Impacto Insumos Agrícolas, Agrovenci, Central Agrícola, América Insumos, AGSE (Colombia), Grupo Cultivar, Denorpi, Deragro, Futuragro, Gral (Colombia), Integra Insumos, Grupo Pitangueiras, Plenafértil, Produtec, Qualicitrus, Realce, Produttiva, Cenagro (Colombia), AgroZap, Nova Geração, and Floema**. Throughout Latin America, around 2,500 employees are employed by companies that are part of Lavoro.

* The partners are still part of the business. The completion of these operations is still subject to the fulfillment of precedent conditions and to the approval by the Brazilian Administration Council of Competition Defense (CADE). **Floema's partners and leadership continue to conduct the company’s operations. The completion of the transaction is still subject to the fulfillment of precedent conditions and to the approval by the Brazilian Administration Council of Competition Defense (CADE).