February 18, 2010
Sale of Kirin Agribio Company and Kirin Agribio EC
Tokyo, February 18, 2010 —Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO, Kazuyasu Kato; hereafter, "Kirin") announced today the signing of a share sale agreement on February 17, 2010 with H2 Equity Partners (hereafter, "H2") in the Netherlands for all outstanding shares of Kirin Agribio Company, Limited (hereafter, "KAB") and Kirin Agribio EC B.V. ("KAE"), both wholly owned subsidiaries of Kirin. The transaction is expected to be complete by the end of March.
Since the incorporation of Kirin Plant Laboratory in 1983, Kirin's Agribio business has expanded its horticulture, vegetable and potato business through collaboration of technologies in breeding, development and production of seeds and cuttings, and has provided its products and services to customers worldwide. Kirin decided to sell its entire shareholdings in both subsidiaries to H2 since Kirin believes that this change of ownership will further develop the business and increase the value of the Agribio companies.
Kirin Group will constantly seek to nurture close bonds with its customers and offer the happiness of food and health, based on its marketing slogan oishisa wo egaoni — good taste makes you smile.