CNH acquires Augmenta

CNH Industrial, parent company of leading agricultural machinery brands, Case IH and New Holland, has announced its purchase of machine vision and tech firm, Augmenta, to accelerate the growth of its Sense & Act technology.

Previously, Augmenta was a CNH Industrial Ventures investment and a CNH Industrial strategic partner.

“What began as a minority investment in their potential, now culminates in us adding this proven tech excellence directly to our sprayer offering,” said Derek Neilson, President Agriculture at CNH Industrial.

“This is an important development for our Agriculture business that will further support our dealers by differentiating our equipment through value-added technology.”

Augmenta’s Sense & Act tasks are based on sensor-detected data during the spraying process, wherein protection solutions are applied to crops both before and after harvest. This technology gives machines selective spraying capabilities which precisely directs and regulates spray volume. 

Augmenta’s work in this area includes the development of a multispectral camera and software that monitors a machine’s operating environment and acts directly via the machine. This increases yield for customers, boosts sustainability by eliminating unnecessary chemical and fertiliser usage, and most importantly reduces application time, effort and input costs.

Savings in herbicide, fungicide, plant growth regulators and fertiliser represent the largest value pool for this technology.

Augmenta will operate within CNH Industrial’s Raven brand, as a subset of its precision technology portfolio. It will maintain its existing employees and offices in Greece and the USA.

CNH Industrial will acquire Augmenta Holding SAS at an enterprise value of $110 million, subject to customary adjustments. CNH Industrial held an existing 10.5 per cent minority stake in the business prior to the transaction announced this week, which will be funded with available cash on hand.

Closing is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfactory completion of customary closing conditions and receipt of regulatory approvals.