Gowan Company, LLC has reached an agreement with Dow AgroSciences LLC to acquire the rights to its global zoxamide fungicide business, marketed primarily under the brand names ZOXIUM£, GAVEL£, ELECTIS£, UNIKAT£ and HARPON£.

Zoxamide is a highly active low-use fungicide used to control oomycete fungi infecting potatoes, vines and vegetables. This purchase will further strengthen Gowan’s position in these markets, and allows Dow AgroSciences to focus resources on priority solutions in its chemical and biotechnology portfolios.

“Due to the press of competing priorities for new product development, Dow AgroSciences, as a research-based company, has not been able to devote the time and resources needed to position zoxamide for optimal growth,” said David Hindes, Global Business Leader, Fungicides. “We believe that zoxamide will be better positioned with Gowan, where it represents a better strategic fit with the company’s portfolio and general business direction.”

“The addition of zoxamide expands Gowan’s fungicide portfolio globally, and is consistent with our goal to identify important products that growers need”, states Matt Comer, Global Marketing Manager for Gowan.

Under this agreement, Gowan and its subsidiaries throughout the world will start selling zoxamide and its formulations effective August 1, 2008. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.