Vilmorin & Cie has signed a purchase agreement for two South American companies, Sursem and Geneze, which were previously part of the Pampa Agribusiness Investment Fund. Sursem is located in Argentina, and Geneze in Brazil. Both companies are dedicated to the research, production, and commercialization of corn, wheat, sunflower, and soybean seeds, with a primary focus on corn cultivation.
They operate four research stations, two production units, and have an extensive commercial distribution network. Last year, they reached $40 million in revenue and employ over 160 collaborators.
In Argentina, with the acquisition of Sursem, Limagrain South America—which has been investing in research since 2010 (focused on corn, wheat, and sunflower)—will strengthen its market presence by significantly expanding its research, production, and commercial structure. This acquisition grants immediate access to strong market positions in corn, wheat, and sunflower.
Argentina has the fourth-largest corn seed market in the world, making it a key region for temperate corn germplasm. This creates strong complementarity with Limagrain’s existing genetic resources in Europe, North America, and South Africa.
Additionally, with this transaction, Vilmorin & Cie will further consolidate its market share in Brazil.
This acquisition is part of Vilmorin & Cie’s global growth strategy and marks an important milestone in the internationalization of Limagrain Group’s Field Seeds Division, reinforcing its current organization and strengthening its commercial positioning for the most important crops in South America.
These two companies will now be integrated into the Limagrain South America business unit, which recorded approximately €55 million in sales during the 2017-2018 fiscal year, with the majority of revenue coming from Brazil.
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