Australian group snaps up AH Marks

London - Organic chemicals manufacturer AH Marks and Co. has been bought by Australian group Nufarm, a leading supplier of crop protection products for £75 million. Based in Wyke, near Bradford, AH Marks has a staff of over 300 and annual sales of £65 million, 75% of which are from exports. Nufarm said it plans to increase production capacity at Wyke and support further new product development programmes.

“AH Marks has important phenoxy herbicides positions with a number of global crop protection companies, including a major supply contract with Nufarm,” explains Nufarm managing director Doug Rathbone. “Its integration into Nufarm’s much broader geographic platform will add significantly to the value that can be extracted from its manufacturing and product positions.”

Coincidental with the Marks purchase, Nufarm has bought Etigra, a North Carolina-based supplier of crop protection products. The two deals are valued at $236m.