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ArborGen acquires commercial tree operations

Nov. 20, 2007
Swamp Fox
By John Warner
ArborGen, a world leader in forest tree improvement technologies, today announced that it has completed the previously announced transactions to acquire the nursery and seed orchard businesses of its U.S. based partners International Paper and MeadWestvaco, and Rubicon Limited’s Horizon2 Australasian business. The transaction is a significant step forward in ArborGen’s strategy for future growth and now has positioned the company to provide a full range of superior products and services to global forest landowners.

“The combination of these businesses is very exciting,” said Dr. Barbara Wells, ArborGen President and Chief Executive Officer, “as it brings together organizations that are recognized industry leaders and represent the very best expertise in breeding, genetics, seedling production, sales and distribution to uniquely create a world-class fully integrated, full-service tree improvement company.”

“In combination with ArborGen’s existing advanced product portfolio, we are now able to offer customers products and services targeted for their specific needs and end-use applications across a wide range of growing conditions,” added Wells. “We believe that these products will enable the forestry industry to lift its productivity and produce more wood on less land, thus conserving native forests in all their diversity for future generations.”

This single transaction has moved ArborGen from being a research-based business to now becoming a commercial entity. The new ArborGen includes nursery and seed operations, land holdings, tree improvement research and development capabilities, and full ownership of 50-plus years of premiere pine and hardwood germplasm and tree breeding programs.

ArborGen will now provide quality products and services to an expanded customer base, operating from more than 20 locations in the United States, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, and producing more than 350 million annual tree stock sales.


About ArborGen
ArborGen is a world leading tree improvement and production business with primary markets in the United States, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Headquartered in the United States, the Company operates from more than 20 locations, producing more than 350 million treestocks each year and employing more than 185 people. The Company, through traditional breeding and advanced genetic technologies is dedicated to providing the best available genetics and tree planting stock for forest landowners that will enable the forestry industry to produce more wood on less land, thus conserving native forests in all their diversity for future generations. ArborGen is also developing trees as feedstock for biofuel production, an important solution for meeting the world’s growing demand for renewable energy. For more information, please visit www.arborgen.com. 		related information