TOKYO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Innovative products, unique marketing expertise will expand the 
Arysta LifeScience position in high-growth markets

Arysta LifeScience Corporation today announced it signed a definitive 
agreement to acquire Grupo Bioquimico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. (GBM), the 
leading Mexican manufacturer and marketer of inputs for the fruit and 
vegetable market. The acquisition of GBM increases the overall presence of 
Arysta LifeScience in the high-value fruit and vegetable crop market, 
especially in Mexico, but also in Central and South America and globally. 
GBM's 2006 sales were approximately US$40 million. The transaction, which is 
pending approval by regulatory authorities, includes GBM and its 
subsidiaries, affiliated real estate and employee service companies, as well 
as its formulation and manufacturing facilities in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, 
Mexico.

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"GBM has focused on innovative high-value products in the growing
horticulture market segment," said Chris Richards, president and CEO, Arysta
LifeScience. "By combining the global strength of Arysta LifeScience with
GBM's outstanding product line and marketing expertise, growers in Mexico,
Central and South America and other targeted regions around the world will
have access to new, innovative products and services that will help them
manage their businesses more effectively. This acquisition is an important
step in the development of the Arysta LifeScience global business in
horticulture, which is one of our key focus markets."

The GBM product portfolio is focused on enhancing crop yield and quality
in the high-value horticulture market and consists of plant growth
regulators, foliar fertilizers, nutrition enhancers and crop protection
products. GBM primarily sells its products in Mexico, Central America and
South America. In Mexico, GBM will significantly expand the Arysta
LifeScience crop protection business. In Central America, South America and
other regions around the world, Arysta LifeScience intends to leverage its
marketing and distribution presence to accelerate the growth of GBM's
products in key horticultural markets.

"In order for our company to continue to grow, we wanted to find a
business partner with the resources to expand the market for our products,"
says Cesar H. Cantu Benavides, board president, GBM. "In Arysta LifeScience,
we will have a partner that has a significant global presence and a business
culture very similar to ours that places the highest priority on customers
and employees."

Fruit and Vegetable Market Evolving, Growing

While traditional crop protection products, such as pesticides and
herbicides, will continue to play a critical role, products that enhance
plant quality and health are becoming increasingly important. High-value
fruits and vegetables are a significant and expanding market for the crop
protection industry, representing approximately US$8 billion in sales in
2006, and growing faster than the overall crop protection market. In
addition, growers are becoming more sophisticated in their production methods
in order to keep pace with consumer-led demand for high-quality produce.

"We have been impressed with GBM's strategic approach to sales and
marketing, as well as the quality and efficacy of its product line," said
Richards. "Our intention is to maintain the integrity of GBM's culture and
management team and to build upon its strengths. GBM's plant growth
regulators, foliar fertilizers, nutrition enhancers and crop protection
products will complement the existing Arysta LifeScience crop protection
portfolio, particularly in high-value crops such as potatoes, tomatoes,
cucurbits, peppers and bananas."

Arysta LifeScience will continue operations at GBM's Saltillo, Coahuila,
Mexico, headquarters as well as the Arysta LifeScience regional headquarters
in Mexico City. "We will work to ensure that customers of both companies
experience no change in the quality of supply and service they have come to
expect," said Richards.

Both companies have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the
transaction.

About GBM

GBM is the Mexican market leader in supplying inputs to fruit and
vegetable growers. With headquarters in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, GBM
specializes in plant growth regulators, nutrition enhancers, foliar
fertilizers and crop protection products. The company was founded in 1974 by
Cesar H. Cantu Benavides, and has grown to 226 full-time employees, including
51 Mexican sales positions. GBM's sales efforts are focused in Mexico,
Central America and South America, with a small export business to Europe.
The company also distributes third-party agrochemical products, both to
distributors and through its retail operation business, Promotora, in
Northern Mexico. More information on the company is available at:
http://www.gbm.com.

About Arysta LifeScience Corporation

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Arysta LifeScience is the world's largest
privately held crop protection and life science company with 2006 revenues of
Yen124.1 billion (US$1 billion). An entrepreneurial provider of crop
protection and life science products in more than 125 countries worldwide,
Arysta LifeScience specializes in marketing and distribution of respected
crop protection brands and life science products in harmony with the needs of
global partners. More information on the company is available at:
http://www.arystalifescience.com.

Web site: http://www.arystalifescience.com
              http://www.gbm.com