Nufarm Limited (NUF) has completed the acquisition of US based sorghum companies Richardson Seeds Limited and MMR Genetics Limited. The company said the acquisition of the Texan companies was for an undisclosed amount.

Nufarm said Richardson Seeds is a producer and marketer of sorghum seed hybrids, with a leading market share in the US and expanding market positions in Mexico, South America, Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

Previously 47% owned by Richardson Seeds, MMR Genetics develops elite sorghum germplasm, which Nufarm said is used by many of the world’s top seed companies.

The Australian agrichemical company said the combined sales of the two acquisitions in 2008 totalled approximately US$22 million.

Managing director Doug Rathbone said sorghum had been a target crop for the company’s seeds business and the two US companies would bring expertise and geographic diversity in germplasm development and licensing; seed production; conditioning; and marketing and sales.

Nufarm’s general manager of Seeds, Brent Zacharias, said the additional scale and reach resulting from the acquisitions would deliver significant growth and would complement the company’s existing sorghum operations that were secured via last year’s acquisition of Queensland based Lefroy seeds.

“The industry knowledge and relationships that have been built up within these businesses represent important value,” Mr Zacharias said.

“I look forward to working with our new teams in Texas and elsewhere to capitalise on the synergies that will result from new opportunities in areas such as breeding, production, seed treatment, and cross marketing of our elite sunflower genetics in target markets.”

As at 1129 AEST, Nufarm sahres were down 6c to $10.91.