French conglomerate Groupe Limagrain acquires Delhi's Century Seeds

French conglomerate, Groupe Limagrain today said that it has acquired Delhi-based Century Seeds Pvt Ltd, a local vegetable seeds cultivator in an undisclosed cash deal.

The acquisition, which was made by Groupe Limagrain's wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, is its second major investment in the Indian seeds sector within a year, since its acquisition of Secunderabad-based BISCO Bio Sciences Private Ltd.

In India, Limagrain operates through three Secunderabad-based wholly-ownd subsidiaries - Atash and BISCO Bio Sciences Private Ltd for  field seeds  and Clause India for professional vegetable seeds 

The acquisition will strengthen Limagrain's vegetable seeds market presence in India, a segment which is growing fast, and eventually seen moving into second position in Asia, after China.

It would immediately double the size of the new entity, representing almost 5 per cent of the vegetable seeds market, with sales of almost €8 million.

Chappes, Puy-de-Dôme-based Limagrain is an international agricultural co-operative group, specialising in field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products.