Makhteshim Agan Expands its Distribution Network - Acquires Slovakian Partner Agrovita

TEL AVIV, Israel and BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, December 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Makhteshim Agan Group (MAI), the world leader in branded off-patent crop protection solutions, and AGROVITA spol. s r. o. (Agrovita), a distributor of crop protection products in Slovakia, today announced that MAI has acquired Agrovita.

Agrovita, founded in 1991, is one of the top 5 distributors of crop protection products in Slovakia and has served as MAI's representative and business partner in Slovakia for 22 years. With a focus on fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, the Company distributes a broad spectrum of products from MAI's portfolio and is developing some of its own products.

This is MAI's second transaction with the shareholders of Agrovita, having previously acquired their activities in the Czech Republic in 2007.

"MAI's acquisition of Agrovita in Slovakia reflects our excitement regarding the future of the Slovakian agrochemicals market as well as our confidence in Agrovita's highly skilled management and sales team and their strong relationships with local agrochemical distributors and farmers," said Anders Harfstrand, head of MAI Europe. "We look forward to continuing to work together with our business partner of many years, Janka Hässlerová, and to expanding Agrovita's Slovakian operations and building on its product development program to meet the growing needs of farmers in Slovakia."

Janka Hässlerová, Managing Director of Agrovita, added, "I am very pleased to be entering a new phase in the relationship between our companies. MAI has acted as our trusted business partner for more than twenty years, developing together with us a broad product offering based on MAI's wide portfolio of crop protection solutions, which have been a major contributor to the success of our company. This transaction is a logical next step in our healthy and long-term collaboration. I am confident that Agrovita's operations will continue to grow under the strong leadership and vision of MAI."  

About Makhteshim Agan

Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and distributor worldwide of crop-protection solutions and the largest off-patent player in the industry. The Company supplies efficient solutions to farmers that assist them in combating disease and increasing yields. In 2012, the Company's revenues were over $2.83 billion, and it is ranked seventh in the world in the overall agro-chemicals industry. The Company is characterized by its know-how, high-level technological-chemical abilities, expertise in product registration, and observance of strict standards of environmental protection, stringent quality control and global marketing and distribution channels. For more information, visit us at http://www.ma-industries.com.

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Anna Wood
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SOURCE Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd