Sun Gro Horticulture Income Fund

Infobox Company
company_name = Sun Gro Horticulture
company_type = Corporation
foundation = Vancouver, British Columbia (1929)
location_city = Bellevue, Washington
location_country = U.S.
industry =
products = Peat moss (processed, baled or concentrated) based growing mixes for professional and retail markets.
num_employees = about 350 (950 at peak seasons)
locations = 27
area_served = North America
homepage = [http://www.sungro.com/ www.sungro.com]

Sun Gro Horticulture (Tsx|GRO.UN) is the leading producer of peat moss in North America. It provides peat-based and bark-based growing mixes for professional use.

History

Founded in 1929 as Western Peat Company Ltd.

Began operating in Manitoba, Canada With a new production facility in 1947

Changed name to Fisons Western Peat Moss Ltd. in 1980 after an acquisition by Fisons PLC.

Changed name again in 1982 to Fisons Horticulture when the Fisons PLC acquision was completed. [ [http://albertahub.techmap.ca/organizations/sun_gro_horticulture_100.html AlbertaHub Industry] Sun Gro profile]

June 1993, Hines Horticulture, Inc. acquired Sun Gro-U.S. and its subsidiaries.

April 6, 1998, Hines Horticulture, Inc. acquired Lakeland Peat Moss, Ltd. and their product line. [ [http://www.hineshort.com/Investors/Acquisitions.aspx Hines Horticulture Recent Acquisitions] ]

In 1999, Sun Gro as a subsidiary of Hines Horticulture, Inc. Acquires Pun Gro Products, Inc. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_August_24/ai_55551409 Hines Horticulture Acquires Pro Gro; Sun Gro Acquires Leading Producer of Bark Based Professional Growing Mixes] ]

In 2002, Hines Horticulture, Inc. sold Sun Gro Horticulture in a Canadian initial public offering. [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25193915_ITM Hines Horticulture Completes Sale of Sun Gro Business for $120 Million. 27-MAR-02] ]

In 2004 Sun Gro Horticulture paid US $6 million to acquire Scotts' professional growing products. [ [http://the-scotts-exchange.com/media_room/press_releases/20041001_sungro.cfm Sun Gro to Acquire Assets of The Scotts Company’s Professional Growing Media Business 29-Jul-04] ]

In 2007 Sun Gro acquired Quebec peat moss producer Tourbiere Omer Belanger Inc. for $3.9 million. [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2007/07/c4671.html Sun Gro completes Quebec acquisition, strengthens long-term peat moss supply] ]

Products

*Sunshine
*LakeLand
*Metro-Mix
*Nutricote
*Black Gold
*Redi-Earth
*Technicote
*Technigro

Associations

Sun Gro is a member of the [http://www.peatmoss.com/pm-membs.php Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association] which was founded 1988 to promote the benefits of peat moss and campaign on environmental issues. The CSPMA's [http://www.peatmoss.com/pm-me1.php Preservation and Reclamation Policy] has prompted Sun Gro to produce its own [http://www.sungro.com/about_environmental.php Environmental & Restoration Policy] .

Naming Rights

Sun Gro has naming rights to the [http://www.sungrocentre.com/ Sun Gro Center] in Beausejour, Manitoba and occasionally sponsors events there. [ [http://www.beausejour.curlingclub.ca/main.htm 2004 Scott Tournament of Hearts Manitoba Provincial Curling Championships Sponsors] ]

References

* [http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/357081 Morrison, Malcolm. The Toronto Star, Mar 27, 2008 06:10 PM Financials help send TSX higher. NY held back by bank profit warnings, oil surge]
* [http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/rdc/2005e0917rd.htm Communications New Brunswick, July 22, 2005 – Expansion and new jobs for Sun Gro Horticulture Canada]