Rhizobium Inoculant Producer Continues Becker Underwood's Strategic Growth
Ames, Iowa (September 30, 2002) –
Becker Underwood, Inc., a leading manufacturer of bio-agronomic and specialty chemical products, announces the purchase of the legume inoculant producer, Urbana Laboratories of St. Joseph, Mo. The recent acquisition unites Becker Underwood’s existing inoculant technology and expertise with Urbana’s well-respected and wide range of inoculant products. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“We have had tremendous growth over the years,” says Urbana Laboratories President, Greg Waibel. “By joining a global organization like Becker Underwood who is committed to the inoculant industry, we will benefit from extensive research and development capabilities as well as rigorous ISO 9001 quality standards. That, coupled with a company culture that fits with our own, will position us to carry out our core mission – to always better serve our customers.”
The acquisition will be seamless for Urbana’s customers as the company’s full line of nitrogen-fixing rhizobium inoculant products will continue to be available through Urbana sales representatives as well as Becker Underwood’s extensive sales force. Urbana Laboratories President, Greg Waibel will also join Becker Underwood in a key management role.
In step with its strategic growth plan, Becker Underwood has also recently purchased the Caldwell, Idaho seed coating company, Seedbiotics and the Sepiret range of seed coating products from the French-based specialty chemical producer, Seppic.
“We’re committed to globally supplying market-leading products and technologies,” says Roger Underwood, CEO of Becker Underwood. “These strategic acquisitions strengthen our core competencies and further position Becker Underwood on a global scale.”
Founded in 1982 in Ames, Iowa, Becker Underwood, Inc. manufactures and markets a variety of specialty chemicals and bio-agronomic products for turf management, agriculture, seed treatment, wood recycling, aquaculture, vegetation management, forestry, structural pest control and many other industries. To learn more about their products, visit the company’s web site at www.beckerunderwood.com.
