Less than two months after the announcement to purchase AgriPro Seeds, Inc. (formerly of Shawnee Mission, Kansas) was made, Garst Seed Company officials announce the final closing of the purchase. The final agreements were reached late in the day on December 23, just prior to the Christmas holiday.

"Once we received word that the Federal Trade Commission had approved the purchase proposal, there were just a few minor details to be worked out before we could officially close the purchase," says Col Seccombe, president of Garst Seed Company. Seccombe notes that Garst
received word of the FTC approval on Monday, December 21. "With that hurdle cleared, we were able to move forward and finalize the purchase agreement right on schedule."

Seccombe adds, "We are very pleased to bring the AgriPro people, products and facilities into the Garst family." Acquired in the purchase were AgriPro's Southern Business Unit, Northern
Business Unit, Wheat Business Unit as well as AgriPro's highly regarded soybean business.

The purchase also includes two soybean breeding programs located in Ames, Iowa and Brookston, Indiana as well as three wheat breeding programs located at Berthoud, Colorado; Lafayette, Indiana and Jonesboro, Arkansas. Garst will also take on AgriPro's seed production facilities at Brookings, South Dakota; Eldora, Iowa; Ames, Iowa and Hereford, Texas.

Financial terms of the purchase will not be released.

Approximately 80 percent of AgriPro's 300 non-seasonal employees have been retained as a result of the purchase, with the remainder staying with the retained business of Helena. "Both Garst and AgriPro shared a common goal and business philosophy - to do what's best for the
American farmer," adds Seccombe. "That has made developing the integration strategies pretty straight-forward." Seccombe notes these and additional integration strategies and issues are proceeding smoothly.

The current integration strategy calls for both Garst and AgriPro products to remain active and growth-oriented in the North American seed industry. And by drawing from the combined efforts of the worldwide Garst and Advanta research network as well as AgriPro's breeding and research efforts, both Garst and AgriPro customers will now have access to an even stronger product range and more technology products.

"Obviously, the common goal, shared by both companies, is to grow within market while continuing to bring new and profitable seed products to our farmer customers," says David Witherspoon, director of marketing for Garst.

The AgriPro portfolio of products includes corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sunflowers, grain sorghum, sorghum-Sudangrasses and millet. For more information on AgriPro brand products, call toll-free 877-AgriPro or visit the web site at www.agripro.com.

For more information on Garst corn hybrids, including 17 new-for-1999 Garst G-STAC hybrids and three new Garst Roundup Ready corn hybrids or, for a complete listing of all Garst products, see your local Garst Sales Representative or call 1-888-GO-GARST. You can also visit our web
site at www.garstseed.com .

G-STAC is a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company.
Roundup Ready is a registered trademark of Monsanto.

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