Sun World International Acquires Biogold, Expanding Portfolio to Include Citrus and Subtropical Varietals
August 01 2024 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
Deal Meaningfully Propels Sun World’s
Horizontal Growth Strategy
Sun World International LLC today announced the acquisition of
Biogold Group, a significant South Africa-based global fruit
variety rights manager, trading as Citrogold in South Africa.
Biogold is recognized as the preeminent global supplier of
citrus genetics. In addition to their own formidable mango
breeding program, Biogold manages significant rights to
mango varieties developed by third-party breeders. Together
with the breeders they represent, Biogold has the world’s largest
mango collection and one of the world’s largest collections of
avocado varieties.
This is an alignment of two industry leaders, who are equally
convinced that joining forces will exponentially power their
innovation capabilities and collective growth.
"Sun World is known for commercializing carefully, and being
intentional when releasing our genetics, in service of maximizing
benefits to our producer licensees,” said David Marguleas, CEO of
Sun World. “Similarly, we make very few acquisitions and when we
do, we do so with discipline. There couldn't be a stronger business
case than this alliance. It’s a powerful accelerant for both
companies and a pretty seamless integration for two already-strong
organizations and leadership teams.”
Biogold’s extensive citrus range is an exponential value-add to
Sun World’s global leadership in table grapes and stone fruit. Like
Sun World, Biogold also holds varietal management rights to a
significant portfolio of not-yet-commercialized varieties, making
the growth runway for the combined company formidable and creating
a parallel path with two revenue streams.
Biogold’s operations will continue to be run by Viresh Ramburan
as Vice President, Global Licensing, Citrus and Subtropicals. There
will be no staff reduction at Biogold because of the acquisition.
The company was founded in South Africa in the late 1990’s by a
small group including Etienne Rabe, and was later joined by Abraham
(Abs) Van Rooyen and others, and it has grown from the efforts of
many individuals. Biogold expanded its international operations in
the 2000’s and was subsequently integrated into ANB Investments
(Pty) Ltd., a leading South Africa-based enterprise with a diverse
portfolio of agriculture holdings. Today, Biogold enjoys a global
presence in South Africa, the U.S., Europe and South America, with
growers in the world’s major citrus producing regions.
Importantly, key management of Biogold will be retained and Van
Rooyen will remain a trusted advisor to Sun World’s executive team.
Having grown up in the business on his family’s citrus farm, he is
widely respected as a visionary leader, and as one of a handful of
individuals who have most advanced the citrus sector in South
Africa into the leading global player it is today.
“This acquisition instantly catapults our combined company onto
a new growth path,” said Ramburan. “We’ve developed unique
expertise in helping fruit breeders monetize their valuable genetic
assets, effectively serving breeders across sectors which include
government, academia and private entities. This acquisition creates
a symbiotic relationship that will be highly scalable to the
benefit of both parties and to our customers – both fruit breeders
and growers.”
Beginning in 2019, Sun World specifically targeted citrus,
mangoes and avocados, as priority genetics adjacencies and today’s
announcement is the result of 5 years of discussion and
discernment. These three priority crops have experienced explosive
retail growth and are much in demand by consumers worldwide. The
Biogold acquisition is the proof of Sun World’s intent to
dramatically accelerate their genetics offering to their 2,700+
licensees. And to have a complete range of the most desirable
genetics for new customers.
“Biogold is an invaluable supplier to Wonderful Citrus,” said
Zak Laffite, President of Wonderful Citrus. “We have tremendous
respect for the quality of their varietals, and know that with Sun
World and Biogold under one roof, we will see tremendous benefits
for the industry as a whole.”
About Sun World
Sun World International is a global fruit variety development
and licensing company, propelled by emerging technologies and
rooted since its inception, in the principles of sustainability.
Sun World pioneered seedless grape varietal development and its
licensing, and formalized their fruit genetics program three
decades ago. With the acquisition of Biogold, the company
specializes in table grapes, stone fruit, cherries, citrus, mangoes
and avocados. www.sun-world.com
About Biogold
Biogold is an important global enterprise in the management of
plant breeders rights, with a leadership position in citrus and
mangoes, and an emerging center of excellence in avocados.
South-Africa based Biogold, trading in that country as Citrogold,
offers variety owners, plant breeders, researchers and research
institutions, a development and commercialization platform that
enables accelerated commercial implementation of new plant
varieties. www.biogold.co.za
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Maureen Crow maureen@maureencrow.com