Indianapolis, IN and Philadelphia, PA, March 8, 2001: The
Dow Chemical Company and Rohm and Haas Company
announced today they have reached agreement for
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Dow, to
purchase Rohm and Haas’s Agricultural
chemicals business, including working capital, for approximately US $1 billion.
Under terms of the agreement,
Dow AgroSciences will acquire Rohm and Haas’s Agricultural Chemicals business,
including its well-recognized fungicide lines,
insecticides,
herbicides, other product lines, trademarks, and license to all
agricultural uses of its
biotechnology assets. The transaction is expected to close in second quarter 2001, subject to
regulatory
approvals.
According to A. Charles Fischer, President and CEO of Dow AgroSciences, "We are delighted with the proposed
acquisition of the Rohm and Haas agricultural business, which includes its prominent fungicide lines,
insecticides, and
herbicides. These product lines complement and enhance Dow AgroSciences’ portfolio by adding high-performance,
brand name products for specialty
crops as well as turf and ornamental businesses around the world. In addition, this
transaction will further boost our global scale and reach, allowing us to better serve our customers in these key high
value businesses."
"The decision to sell our Agricultural Chemicals business was a difficult one, especially considering the long history
with our company," said Raj Gupta, Rohm and Haas Company’s Chairman and CEO. "The business has a premier
reputation in the market and has contributed substantially to the success of the company for some 70 years. However,
as we continue to reshape our portfolio for the future, it has become increasingly evident that the Agricultural
Chemicals business will flourish more as part of a global firm with a stronger presence serving the agricultural markets.
Dow AgroSciences is among the world leaders in the
crop protection business. They have the experience, the
know-how, and the resources to ensure the continued vitality of this business as part of its presence in the
marketplace."
The sale will result in the transfer of ownership of parts of Rohm and Haas’ manufacturing sites in Jacarei,
Brazil;
Barranquilla,
Colombia; Lauterbourg,
France, and Mozzanica,
Italy; all of the Nantong,
China plant will transfer, as well
as assets owned by Rohm and Haas in Muscatine, Iowa. The Philadelphia, PA, plant’s Agricultural Chemicals
operations will become a
toll manufacturing site for Dow AgroSciences.