RIDGEVILLE, S.C., & WHAKATANE, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ArborGen, a global leader in the development and sale of genetically superior seedlings that lift the productivity and yields of forests around the world, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Edendale Nursery business in Southland, New Zealand. ArborGen will begin production at the nursery on April 1, 2014, and be responsible for sales in the 2014 season onwards.
ArborGen is the largest supplier of seedlings in New Zealand and sells up to 25 million trees annually, predominately in the North Island. The company currently owns in New Zealand five production nurseries, two seed orchards, and a manufacturing facility for the production of high value Radiata Varietal seedlings.
The Edendale Nursery is a well-established nursery growing seedlings for large corporate forest owners, forest managers, consultants and farm foresters in Southland and Otago regions, with the capacity to produce up to ten million seedlings annually.
“This acquisition now enables ArborGen to supply customers throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Edendale’s customers will now also be able to benefit from the extensive investments ArborGen has made to develop seedlings with superior genetics for planting in New Zealand’s forests. We look forward to working with forest owners in Southland and Otago, assisting them to add additional value to their estates, and continuing Edendale’s proud tradition in the region,” said Greg Mann, general manager of ArborGen’s Australasian operations.
ArborGen was specifically sought by Edendale’s owners to take over their business. They believe that ArborGen is best positioned to ensure their business continues to grow and thrive, and their long term customers to continue to receive high quality service and products. “We are very pleased to know that the business we have worked so hard to develop since 1987 will continue to grow and develop in ArborGen’s capable hands,” said Ron Hinton, managing director of Edendale Nursery (Southland) Limited.
The nursery’s land will be leased from the current owners with ArborGen holding a land purchase option. Approval for the transaction has been received from the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office.
About ArborGen
ArborGen is revolutionizing productivity in forestry. ArborGen is the largest global supplier of seedling products and a leading provider of improved genetics to the forest industry. Through innovations in conventional breeding, improved genetics and emerging biotechnology advances, ArborGen is developing high-value products that significantly improve the economic returns and productivity of a given hectare of land. These products enable ArborGen’s customers to grow trees that yield more wood per hectare with greater consistency and quality in a shorter period of time. ArborGen’s work is improving the sustainability of working forests while helping to meet the world’s growing need for wood, fiber and energy. For more information, please visit www.arborgen.com and www.arborgen.co.nz.
