Scientific giant snaps up North Yorkshire business
A EUROPEAN scientific giant has acquired York-based agrochemical business NDSM.
The operations of Eurofins Agroscience Services, a €1.95bn-turnover French business cover everything from crop fertilisers, to recently being allowed to test for the Zika virus.
The company, founded in 1990, specialises in testing fertilisers and agrochemicals to increase crop quality and yield.
It is the latest acquisition by NDSM which is expanding its existing services
NDSM founder and managing director, Nigel Metcalfe said: “Having been made redundant during the recession of 1990 at the age of 34 with no pay-off and an extremely specialised CV, the only real option was to set up by myself – something I did with confidence. But even so, I was taken aback when I was forced to become VAT registered within just ten days of trading.”
“The success of NDSM over the years has been a source of great pride and the team I’ve assembled in Kirkbymoorside is the strongest I’ve ever worked with. By continuing to work together I’m sure we’ll continue making a huge impact on the industry within the Eurofins Group.”
EAS Group field operations director, Chris Harrison, said, “We are delighted that Nigel and his colleagues at NDSM are joining our team. Not only will they complement our field facility locations within the UK, but they will also add to the quality and expertise within the Group.”
Nigel Metcalfe was advised by a team from Lupton Fawcett Denison Till, which was headed by directors Martin Frost and Andrew Lindsay, while Alan Sidebottom and his team at Garbutt & Elliott provided specialised tax and accountancy advice.
Martin Frost commented: “Nigel’s story of how he built NDSM to a level where he was able to attract the attention of a global giant like Eurofins gave this deal a really nice feel good factor – because let’s face it, we all love a real Yorkshire success story.”
