Agribio Group teams up with Bartels Stek and Bartels Roses

Broadening assortment and development of new varieties

De Lier/Aalsmeer, 6 December 2011 - The Dutch flower and plant breeder Agribio Group teams up with Bartels Stek and Bartels Roses (Bartels), the two operating companies of the renowned Dutch flower and plant breeder Goos Bartels. The partnership leads to the broadening of the assortment of Agribio Group, stronger growth potential for Bartels and faster development of new promising varieties through market driven innovations by combining the Research & Development departments.

Agribio Group has taken this step to expand its global position in flower and plant breeding. Bartels retains its brand name and Goos Bartels will remain as managing director of the holding company thatwas founded in 1934.The partnership is structured through the acquisition of the shares in Bartels by Agribio Group.

Harry Kloppenburg, Chief Executive of Agribio Group: ´´ Bartels is a beautiful addition to our assortment. We admire Bartels for establishing a strong reputation as developer of new varieties in a range of niche products. That fits nicely with our strategy and therefore we are delighted that the management is staying on.´´

Goos Bartels: ´´With the help of our loyal clients and suppliers Bartels achieved a strong position in varieties like Solidago, Phlox and Aster as global market leader. We are also convinced that Bartels will flourish by the partnership with Agribio Group. Our clients and suppliers can continue to rely on us and also benefit from our increased strength in innovations in the coming years. Consequently I am confident that the partnership with Agribio Group will proof to be a major success.´´

Agribio Group, a global player

Agribio Group is active in 56 countries and trades over one billion cuttings per year.The company is a global top-3 player in terms of vegetative breeding and propagation of plants and flowers.The Agribio Group includes top breeding companies such as Fides, Japan Agribio and Barberet & Blanc.The company has 2,400 employees and annual sales of around 85 million euro.

The company became independent in March 2010. Since then Agribio Group made major steps to improve efficiency and now focuses fully on breeding flowers and plants. Agribio Group is ready for further growth, as evidenced by the acquisition of American company Oro Farms earlier this year and the stake it took in Dutch Genetwister Technologies.

About Bartels Stek and Bartels Roses
Bartels Stek is a family-owned company established in 1934 in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. It is specialised in breeding niche flower varieties like Solidago, Phlox and Aster. The company is global market leader in these varieties. Bartels Roses was established fifteen years ago and since then a commercially successful range of roses has been developed.