1/31/2015
Dümmen: Three Days, Two Acquisitions
Chris Beytes
After a long, quiet fall and early winter, January has kicked off with not one, but two, business purchases by Dümmen—or, more technically, the DNA Green Group, which is the name of the company formed by the merger of the Dümmen Group and Agribio Group in 2013 (DNA’s majority owner is H2 Equity Partners).
First, on Monday, January 12, DNA Green Group announced the purchase of Terra Nigra, a Dutch gerbera and rose breeder and propagator with more than 40 years of experience. That will add to DNA’s range of cut flowers—which already includes Barberet & Blanc (carnations), Bartels Stek (solidago, phlox, aster) and Lex+ (roses).
Terra Nigra brings not only genetics to the table, but also advanced scientific breeding and selection techniques, as well as a strong sales network. They have subsidiaries in the U.S., Ecuador and Kenya.
Pictured: Aad van der Lem, CEO of Rijnplant (left), and Biense Visser of DNA Green Group shake on the deal.
Then, on Wednesday, January 14, DNA Green Group announced the acquisition of Rijnplant, headquartered in De Lier, the Netherlands (as is DNA). Rijnplant, owned by the Van Rijn family, is a globally respected specialist in breeding, propagation and production of anthurium—both for cuts and pots. In addition, they do bougainvillea and heliconia.
GrowerTalks tried to reach Perry Wismans of Dümmen for more details on the two deals, but he was traveling to the MANTS show in Baltimore and wasn’t able to comment.
In the meantime, in the Rijnplant press release, Biense Visser, CEO of DNA Green Group, stated, “DNA Green Group takes yet another step towards the realization of its growth strategy. This is aimed at creating synergies in technology, production and sales. We are creating these synergies by consolidating breeding programs. The economies of scale this creates, drives a further professionalization of the value chain in floriculture. The same development as we see in agricultural and vegetable crops.”
He said much the same about the Terra Nigra deal.
How big is DNA Green Group now? Well, sales for 2014 totaled $200 million and they employ some 6,000 people worldwide.
GT