MAKHTESHIM-AGAN, AN ISRAEL-BASED PRODUCER OF GENERIC AGROCHEMICALS, IS LOOKING FOR U.S. CHEMICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES FOR ACQUISITIONS OR JOINT VENTURES, SAID JOSEPH KOST, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BRANCH OF THE COMPANY, AT A SEMINAR ON OCT. 17.
THE CHEMICAL COMPANY IS PART OF KOOR INDUSTRIES LTD., ISRAEL’S LARGEST INDUSTRIAL GROUP. REPRESENTATIVES FROM KOOR’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONICS, INVESTMENT, TRADING AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANIES ALSO SPOKE AT THE SEMINAR AND DISCUSSED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ISRAEL WITH ATTENDEES.
“WE WANT LESS DEPENDENCY ON THE AGROCHEMICAL SIDE,” SAID MR. KOST. “WE ARE LOOKING INTO ALIGNING OR MERGING WITH COMPANIES THAT CAN STRENGTHEN OUR MARKET SHARE OR ADD PRODUCTS TO OUR LINE.”
THE CHEMICAL COMPANY CURRENTLY FOCUSES ON PRODUCING GENERIC AGROCHEMICALS AFTER PATENTS ON THE ORIGINAL PRODUCT HAVE EXPIRED, HE SAID, BUT IS INTERESTED IN OTHER INDUSTRIES, ESPECIALLY PHARMACEUTICALS AND AROMA-CHEMICALS THAT ARE USED TO ADD SCENT TO OTHER PRODUCTS, AND IN PRODUCING ITS OWN LINE OF CHEMICALS.
“WE ARE INTERESTED IN ALL KINDS OF CHEMICALS, WE WOULD BUY A LINE OF TEXTILE CHEMICALS IF WE COULD DEVELOP IT INTO A NEW LINE OF BUSINESS,” MR. KOST ADDED.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM KOOR’S TADIRON ELECTRONICS INC. AND TELRAD COMMUNICATIONS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN MEETING WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGERS OF MAJOR COMPANIES OR GOVERNMENTS, ELECTRONICS AND SYSTEMS COMPANIES, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES WITH UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES.
ADINA BRENNER, PRESIDENT OF KOOR 2000, THE U.S. BRANCH OF KOOR, SAID THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH INVESTMENT BANKERS, PRIVATE INVESTORS, INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND MAJOR DEVELOPERS INTERESTED IN JOINT VENTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
KOOR INDUSTRIES HAS 16,000 EMPLOYEES AND REPORTED SALES OF $3.2 BILLION IN 1995.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEMINAR, WHICH WAS HELD AT THE ATLANTA LAW FIRM POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER & MURPHY, AND ORGANIZED BY THE AMERICAN-ISRAEL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CALL THE CHAMBER AT (404) 874-6970. MR. KOST CAN BE REACHED AT (212) 661-9800; FAX (212) 661-9038.
BY BRIANA PEHLMAN