Summary
- Mitsui & Co., Ltd. announced the signing of a formal agreement under which a new business would be established by combining its European subsidiary Certis Europe with its recent purchase Belchim Crop Protection. Certis Belchim B.V. will be the new company’s name.
- Certis Europe B.V. (“Certis”, Head Office: Netherlands) and Belchim Crop Protection NV/SA (“Belchim”, Head Office: Belgium), both affiliates of Mitsui’s fully owned company, Mitsui AgriScience International SA/NV, have amalgamated (“MASI”, Head Office: Belgium).
Working with the Mitsui & Co. group through strategic relationships with prominent Japanese R&D-focused crop protection firms, both companies have grown as crop protection distribution platforms for the European and North American markets.
Certis Belchim B.V : a New Company founded by. Mitsui & Co.Ltd.
Following the approval of Japanese shareholders, the two firms will combine their activities to establish a company with a strong presence in the European market. In order to leverage on the brands of both firms, the new company’s name will be changed to Certis Belchim B.V. (“Certis Belchim,” Head Office: Netherlands) when the requisite procedures are completed.
Mitsui will work with the merged company’s management team and employees to strengthen its management foundation, improve crop productivity and quality while pursuing environmental protection in agriculture by combining original high added-value products developed by Japanese R&D-focused crop protection manufacturers with environmentally friendly biopesticides and seed treatment preparations, which are both companies’ strengths, to create an attractive company
A new crop-protection force
Certis Belchim brings together the resources of two well-established companies to develop a new crop protection force with solid roots in Europe, a vibrant and growing platform in North America, and increasing potential with partners in Africa, South America, and Asia. Certis Belchim’s product portfolio includes acquired and self-developed proprietary goods, Mitsui AgriScience group products, strategic partner suppliers, and a comprehensive and market-leading range of biological products based on Japanese R&D.
Quote from Hitoshi Kudo, General Manager, Agriscience Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd.:
“Certis Belchim combines the resources and expertise of its two legacy companies, Certis Europe and Belchim Crop Protection, to present a significant force in the crop protection market.
Quote from Mark Waltham, CEO, Certis Belchim B.V.:
“Certis Belchim is built on the foundations of two creative and dynamic companies who have positioned themselves as providers of innovative crop protection solutions, supported by best-in-class technical and product knowledge and we will continue to build from these foundations in Europe and beyond. I am very excited to be leading such a capable team. We are united in our ambition to help our customers and suppliers develop innovative products and programs designed to protect crops around the world sustainably; this is the essence of “growing together.”
Materiality of Mitsui
As part of our corporate mission to “Build brighter futures, everywhere,” and to earn the trust and expectations of our stakeholders in order to realise a better tomorrow for the earth and for people all over the world, we have identified five material issues (“Materiality”) for Mitsui’s long-term growth. We expect this project/business will make a significant contribution to the accomplishment of the goals of “Secure and sustainable supply of critical items” and “Create an environmentally friendly society.”
About Mitsui & Co.
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is a Japanese sogo shosha (general trading company) that is part of the Mitsui Group. Its business areas include energy, machinery, chemicals, food, textiles, logistics, finance, and other areas.
Mitsui & Co. (general trading company), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sapporo Breweries, Toray Industries, Mitsui Chemicals, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Mitsui Fudosan are among the group’s major companies.