SePRO Corp. acquires former Zeneca Research Facility in N.C.

Carmel, IN – SePRO Corp. President and CEO, William Culpepper, announced today that SePRO has completed negotiations to purchase the former Zeneca research facility in North Carolina.

The 410-acre site is located in Whitakers, N.C., 60 miles northeast of Raleigh. To be named the SePRO Research and Technology Campus, it includes an extensive six-building aquatic research and technology complex, complete with laboratories and 11 acres of specialized aquatic research ponds and mesocosms. In addition to the aquatic facilities, the campus site includes 296 acres of tillable land, 79 acres of woodland, and a 15-acre lake.

“We are extremely pleased to acquire a facility so ideal for advancing the science of aquatic plant management and for this facility’s ability to provide high quality technical support for SePRO’s future growth,” Culpepper says. “This new Research and Technology Campus greatly expands our laboratory capabilities and allows for additional cooperative research opportunities with such institutions as North Carolina State University,” he explained.

“North Carolina lies at nearly perfect latitude to meet our aquatic research requirements,” comments Steve Cockreham, SePRO’s vice president of research and regulatory affairs. “It’s a well situated geographic site with mild weather, giving us the ability to conduct studies on both Eurasian Watermilfoil and Hydrilla, and a wide variety of other invasive weed and algae species.”

Over the next five years, SePRO plans to invest approximately $7 million into their new facility, according to Culpepper. The effort will initially include aquatic-related aquarium, mesocosm and field research studies, laboratory assay support, and growth room screening for evaluating existing and new products. In the future, the facility could also accommodate turf and landscape ornamental research capabilities and distribution center for SePRO’s growing product line.

“SePRO’s selection to locate their new research campus here is great news for Eastern North Carolina,” said North Carolina Governor Mike Easley. “After all their investigation, they chose North Carolina’s No. 1-ranked business climate. SePRO is not only making a substantial investment but also creating jobs of the future, jobs that are high quality and high paying.”