AgroPages-TKI acquires BASFs Surround-Agricultural news

The US company, Tessenderlo Kerley Inc (TKI - Phoenix, Arizona), has acquired the kaolin-based insect repellent and crop protectant, Surround, from BASF. Global development and marketing will be carried out by TKIs crop protection unit, NovaSource. Surround was developed by Engelhard in collaboration with the USDA and introduced in 1999. It is registered for use in 20 countries. The business is worth less than $10 million.

Mitsui/Sipcam-Oxons US joint venture, Advan, had agreed to distribute the product in US specialty markets before BASFs purchase of Engelhard. Advan no longer distributes Surround in the US, where NovaSource will handle the product through its own sales force. Outside the US, several companies have expressed interest in developing and marketing Surround, TKI group vice-president David Cassidy told Agrow. The company plans to use third-party distributors set up around the world by Engelhard and BASF.

The acquisition of Surround is a further step in the planned expansion of the Novasource product line, Mr Cassidy says. TKI produces and markets off-patent pesticides, fertilisers and specialty chemicals. It is part of the Belgian Tessenderlo group.