Synthomer Np Discussion Threads

[waldron] 17/1/2013 10:31

Syngenta e-licensing heralds new era for sharing of plant science innovation
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Syngenta (NYSE:SYT)
Intraday Stock Chart
Today : Thursday 17 January 2013
BASEL, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Syngenta today launched a landmark e-licensing platform to provide plant breeders and research institutes around the world with quick and easy access to patented native traits from its commercial vegetable varieties.
The global internet-based platform also offers access to patented enabling technologies, which help breeders with gene expression, plant transformation and protein targeting as they develop high-yielding varieties.
Syngenta's Head of Business Development, Robert Berendes, said: "We are proud to be able to make our patented native traits and enabling technologies more accessible than ever before. Our e-licensing platform will help accelerate Innovation in agriculture so that growers – large and small – can increase productivity in the face of challenges such as climate change and scarce natural resources."
All academic and non-profit organizations can make free use of the available traits and technologies for R&D purposes and can distribute the resulting products in developing countries free of charge.
Creating new varieties with desirable combinations of plant characteristics requires extensive breeding expertise and long-term R&D investment. Patents play an important role in incentivizing research. However, plant breeders have traditionally been challenged by the complex, costly and time-consuming process of obtaining licenses to patented technology. Syngenta has addressed this issue by offering standard licenses under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. There are also no lengthy and complex negotiations as licenses can be secured via the internet-based platform.
To access Syngenta's e-licensing system, please visit: www.traitability.com
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 26,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com

[ariane] 23/10/2012 08:34

Syngenta 3Q Group Sales Up 1% To $2.7 Billion
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Syngenta (NYSE:SYT)
Intraday Stock Chart
Today : Tuesday 23 October 2012
ZURICH--Syngenta AG (SYNN.VX) said Tuesday it expects an increase in the Ebitda margin at costant exchange rates and strong growth in earnings per share for the full year, as its performance in Latin America boosts third-quarter sales.
MAIN FACTS:
-3Q sales increased by 1% (+6% at constant exchange rates).
-In Latin America, a strong start to the season drove sales growth of 17%, with expansion across all product lines. High soybean prices are leading to acreage expansion and increased investment by soybean growers in Brazil and Argentina. Sales of crop protection for sugar cane doubled as a result of rapid technology adoption.
-In Asia Pacific and North America sales decreased by 5% and in Europe, Africa and the Middle East by 10%.
-Sales in the first nine months of the year increased by 6% to reach a record $11 billion.
-Chief Executive Mike Mack said: "Continued growth in the third quarter demonstrates the breadth of our portfolio and the gathering momentum of our strategy. In Latin America, where Brazil is in its third year of integration, we are starting to realize the full potential of our leading commercial offers and new technologies. This, together with the increase in our targets for key crops, gives us increased confidence in our long term growth potential."
-Zurich Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires, [phone]; [e-mail]
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[waldron] 18/10/2012 09:56

ABB CFO Demare To Step Down After Becoming Syngenta Chairman
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Abb (NYSE:ABB)
Intraday Stock Chart
Today : Thursday 18 October 2012
Power and technology company ABB Ltd (ABBN.VX) Thursday said Chief Financial Officer Michel Demare will leave the company after being appointed the new chairman at agricultural chemicals company Syngenta AG (SYNN.VX).
MAIN FACTS:
- Demare has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Syngenta beginning in April 2013 and will in the future focus on his various Board roles
- Demaré, 56, joined ABB in 2005 as Chief Financial Officer and acted as interim CEO for part of 2008.
- In addition, he was head of ABB's Global Markets organization for several years.
- He will leave ABB at a date still to be determined.
- "Michel Demaré has had outstanding track records during his time with ABB. The company's strong financial position today is testimony to his achievements", said Joe Hogan, ABB's Chief Executive Officer.
- A successor to Demaré will be announced in due course.
-Zurich Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires, [phone]; [e-mail]
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[raysor] 09/10/2012 09:40

Redmayne Bentley rate Syngenta a BUY in their latest issue of Share Spotlight

They cite surging grain prices as the main driver and rate Syngenta as a buy. This stock should be easy enough to buy through a London broker but not sure how easy it would be on-line.

[waldron] 19/11/2010 15:03

2011:

Events Date Location
Full Year Results 2010 February 09, 2011 -
Q1 trading statement April 15, 2011 -
AGM April 19, 2011 -
2011 Half year results July 22, 2011 -
Q3 trading statement October 14, 2011

[waldron] 19/11/2010 14:59

INTERVIEW: Poor Farmers Need Skills, Not Aid - Syngenta CEO
The looming food crisis threatening poor nations underscores the need for subsistence farmers to sharpen their business skills rather than rely on aid to avoid future calamities, said Mike Mack, Chief Executive of Syngenta AG (SYNN.VX), one of the world's largest crop protection and seed makers.

With more than 900 million people around the globe suffering from hunger, genetically modified food is also needed to feed the world's population, which is expected to rise to 9 billion in 2050 from 6.5 billion now, he said in an interview.

Mack's comments come amid a warning from the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization of new global food shortages as prices for wheat, corn and rice neared record levels of 2008 after a series of crop failures caused by bad weather.

"Too many growers don't have vibrant businesses as farmers," Mack said. "Some of the people think that, oh no, we have to give more food to the malnourished people and they go into what is traditionally an aid mind ... It's my view that this is absolutely not the problem."

"The problem is, there are hundreds of millions of farmers, who today are not commercially successful and who can barely feed themselves and have a very hard time to feed their community," Mack said. "We have to value farming as a business as opposed to just value farming for what we can take of it."

Some of the problems responsible for the huge number of malnourished people are structural, as many farmers around the world lack property rights and have little incentive to invest in their lands. But basic farming skills used in Asia and Africa are also often too rudimentary to have success chances, he said.

Crop rotation--practiced in Europe since the Middle Ages to maintain the quality of the soil--isn't common outside the West. This is because many poor farmers have scarce capacity to plan ahead and tend to overuse their parcels rather than rotate crops.

Among these efforts, Syngenta's Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture is reaching out to farmers in Asia and Africa, where it is selling small sachets of crop protection products at low prices. Such smallholder projects have generated some $30 million in sales last year.

The foundation is also helping farmers use improved techniques and cooperates with insurers to protect farmers against droughts and floods. The company has spent some $20 million in 2009 amid these efforts.

Non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace criticize this approach. They say this form of help is a veiled attempt of large seed and crop protection manufacturers to make farmers dependent on designed and patented products. Many of the novel seeds, Greenpeace says, can often only be used during one season and need to be bought anew every year, creating a lucrative market for companies such as Syngenta.

But not using them has consequences.

"If you don't use good quality seed, and I am not talking here necessarily about genetically modified seed, then the yields of this farmer are going to be low," Mack said.

According to CropLife International, a research group backed by industry leaders such as Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd (4005.TO) and Dupont Co (DD), the use of crop protection can limit harvest losses by half, helping keep food prices stable. The organization also says that patent protections are necessary as the cost for a new product can be as high as $200 million.

Switzerland-based Syngenta, which was created 10 years ago out of the merger between Novartis AG's (NVS) and Astrazeneca's (AZN) agrochemicals business, has developed into an industry leader with around $11 billion in annual sales, ahead of competitors such as Monsanto Co (MON) of the U.S. and Germany's Bayer AG (BAYN.XE).

The recent surge in wheat prices in the wake of droughts in Russia as well as the food crisis of 2008 that triggered a wave of riots in several dozen countries, has helped the Basel-based firm lift prices for seeds and crops after years of sluggish price developments. But the rush into these soft commodities was speculative and not driven by an actual drop in production, Mack said.

"Actually, the pile of corn had remained the same during the 2008 crisis. What had changed was that future prices were rising and that many aid organizations simply didn't have enough funds to buy what they needed."

"The problem, hence, wasn't biological--rather, ensuing trade disruptions triggered the problem," he said.

A trade-induced crisis scenario could repeat itself.

The UN's warning about a potential new crisis came as the body said that the cost of importing food is set to surpass $1 trillion in 2010. This could fuel food price inflation and hit the world's poorest, who are dependent on aid.

The high cost of imports is partly due to trade restriction, as countries such as Russia and Ukraine have imposed wheat export bans, according to the UN, which recently warned that world food production will need to rise by 70% over coming decades to feed the world's a population in 2050.

Part of the remedy could come through reducing trade barriers. But improving farming skills is essential for solving the food crisis, while the use of bioengineered plants is important to improve productivity, Mack said, noting that genetically modified foods have led to economic gains of some $44 billion since their introduction in 1996.

-By Goran Mijuk, Dow Jones Newswires, [phone]; [e-mail]

[waldron] 22/5/2008 10:46

USDA axes national survey charting pesticide use




FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Consumers and farmers will soon be on their own when
it comes to finding out which pesticides are being sprayed on everything from
corn to apples.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it plans to do away with
publishing its national survey tracking pesticide use, despite opposition from
prominent scientists, the nation's largest farming organizations and
environmental groups.
"If you don't know what's being used, then you don't know what to look for,"
said Charles Benbrook, chief scientist at The Organic Center, a nonprofit in
Enterprise, Ore. "In the absence of information, people can be lulled into
thinking that there are no problems with the use of pesticides on food in this
country."
Since 1990, farmers and consumer advocates have relied on the agency's
detailed annual report to learn which states apply the most pesticides and where
bug and weed killers are most heavily sprayed to help cotton, grapes and oranges
grow.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also uses the fine-grained data
when figuring out how chemicals should be regulated, and which pesticides pose
the greatest risk to public health.
Joe Reilly, an acting administrator at the National Agricultural Statistics
Service, said the program was cut because the agency could no longer afford to
spend the $8 million the survey sapped from its $160 million annual budget.
"Unless new funds are made available there's not much that we can do,"
Reilly said.
While the agency "hates eliminating any report that is actually needed out
in the American public," he said consumers could find similar data from private
sources.
Still, only a handful of the major agricultural chemical companies spend the
approximately $500,000 it costs to buy a full set of the privately collected
data each year, according to a letter written by an advisory committee to the
agency.
Most farmers can't afford to pay for the information and environmental
groups use it to analyze which chemicals could turn up in local water supplies
or endanger critical species.
Eliminating the program "will mean farmers will be subjected to conjecture
and allegations about their use of chemicals and fertilizer," said Don Lipton, a
spokesman for the American Farm Bureau. "Given the historic concern about
chemical use by consumers, regulators, activist groups and farmers, it's
probably not an area where lack of data is a good idea."
Pesticide companies also rely on the program when they're looking to
reregister agricultural chemicals, said Beth Carroll, a senior stewardship
manager with Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.
Reilly said the agency would "love to reinstate the program," but said for
now it will only do key surveys. Those include the monthly crop report, which
influences commodity prices on the futures market, and livestock reports, which
set the price for hogs and cattle.
At a time when consumers are increasingly curious about what goes into their
food, farmers, chemical companies and advocacy groups said the cuts would have
wide-ranging affects.
"What we'll end up doing is understanding pesticide use through getting
accident reports," said Steve Scholl-Buckwald, managing director at the San
Francisco nonprofit Pesticide Action Network. "And that's a lousy way to protect
public health."

[waldron] 22/5/2008 10:43

Richemont "buy," target price raised
05/21/08 - Dresdner Kleinwort Wasser.
LONDON, May 21 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Dresdner Kleinwort maintain their "buy" rating on Richemont (CFR). The target price has been raised from CHF70 to CHF77.

In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that the company's revenue growth accelerated in 4Q08 from the level in the first nine months of the year. Richemont is expected to post 23% EBIT growth in FY08, implying margin expansion of 230bps, the analysts say. The company is expected to generate robust growth at its watch and jewelry divisions, Dresdner Kleinwort adds. Although the market has been resilient to the economic slowdown so far, the company is expected to issue conservative guidance, according to the analysts.

[waldron] 18/5/2008 09:59

'Effective chemicals may be lost'
By Sarah Mukherjee
BBC environment correspondent



Scientists say they are worried about new EU proposals which could drastically restrict the number of pesticides available to farmers.

The registration process is changing and many commonly used chemicals are likely to fall out of use.

It is claimed the replacement regime could lead to reduced yields and further increases in food costs.

But anti-pesticide campaigners say the changes are needed to help protect human health and the environment.

Field fight

Agro-science is in a constant battle against the pests that attack our food crops. Like the Indian plant-hopper, these tiny unwanted animals can strip a field completely, literally sucking the life out of the plants.

The plant-hoppers are studied under strict quarantine conditions at centres such as the UK's Rothamsted Research Institute. The insects are resistant to the latest generation of pesticides - and we are beginning to run out of solutions to use against them.

"It can take 10 years to develop a new pesticide," says Dr Steve Foster.

"Because of the legal, and health and safety, hoops you have to go through, it can also cost hundreds of millions of pounds," he told BBC News.

Dr Foster and many other scientists working in this area say they are appalled at new proposals coming from the European Union, and in particular from the EU Parliament, which are likely to result in the removal from use of many of the most effective pesticides.

Rule changes

The row centres on a rather obscure sounding directive called 94/414. This directive ceases this year, and a new regime needs to be put in place.

Two things are happening. First, the registration process for pesticides has been so slow, many are still not on the approved list under the current directive.

As the directive runs out, chemicals may be lost to farmers because, in effect, they run out of time, and fall off the end of the list.

Secondly, members of the European Parliament want to get much stricter regulations into the new replacement regime. One agro-chemist told me: "Everybody's jaws fell to the floor once we realised the implications, which appear not to have been based on science at all."

Government advice

A report by the UK government's own Pesticide Safety Directive points out that no impact assessment has been carried out for the proposals.


It goes on to say: "The [European] Commission proposals could remove up to 15% of the substances assessed, some of which are particularly important in the UK for protection of minor crops such as carrots and parsnips.

"It is possible that the endocrine disruptor criteria could impact particularly on fungicide availability and might result in 20-30% yield losses in cereals.

"The Parliament proposals include a single approval period for candidates for substitution of five years and could result in the loss of up to 85% of conventional chemical substances after that period.

"If the full potential impact of the current Parliament proposals were realised, conventional commercial agriculture in the UK (and much of the EC) as it is currently practised would not be achievable, with major impacts on crop yield and food quality."

Health claims

Dr Bill Parker, an entomologist with the agricultural consultancy Adas, sums up the concerns that he and the farmers he works with have about the new regime.

"If you start to reduce the number of tools in the armoury - not just for pests but for weeds and diseases as well - then that actually makes the business of food production much more risky," he told BBC News.

"It doesn't necessarily mean we are going to have food shortages overnight, but in due course and in certain years we could well end up in the situation where the harvest for one particular type of crop in one particular year could be very severely compromised."

But anti-pesticide campaigners say the new proposals are much needed, and it is vital that the EU recognises the importance of bringing in measures to protect the environment and human health.

Georgina Downs, from UK Pesticides Campaign, says the new measures "must not be watered down by industry lobbying".

Ms Downs argues that people regularly or repeatedly exposed to, or working with, pesticides may have a higher risk of incidence of cancer or other chronic diseases, birth defects, and many other complaints.

She says chronic health impairment results from a low but constant level of pesticides and has a long-term character; and clear correlations between exposure and chronic effects are not often recognised immediately since no obvious symptoms of poisoning exist.

Bur farmers warn that without all the available tools, they will find it increasingly difficult to maintain productivity - particularly in the face of rising food demand.

Story from BBC NEWS:


Published: 2008/05/16 17:32:18 GMT

[ariane] 23/4/2008 20:02

Syngenta "buy," target price raised
9:01a.m. - Deutsche Bank
LONDON, April 23 (newratings.com) - Analyst Virginie Boucher-Ferte of Deutsche Bank maintains her "buy" rating on Syngenta AG (SVJ), while raising her estimates for the company. The target price has been raised from CHF335 to CHF355.

In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company has reported impressive 1Q results, with healthy sales growth. Region wise, Syngenta's sales in Latin America, Europe and Asia were robust, while divisionally, Crop Protection's sales were impressive, the analyst adds. The EPS estimates for 2008-2012 have been raised by 6%-7%.

[ariane] 23/4/2008 08:19

Syngenta "buy," target price raised
04/22/08 - UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking
LONDON, April 22 (newratings.com) - Analyst Andreas Heine of UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking maintains his "buy" rating on Syngenta (SYNN). The target price has been raised from CHF332 to CHF356.

In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company has reported its 1Q sales ahead of the estimates and the consensus. Crop protection sales grew by 17% in the core units and new product sales rose by 24% in the quarter, the analyst says. While Syngenta generated strongest growth in the region of Latin America, the Asian emerging markets are exhibiting robust growth trends as well, UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking adds.

[waldron] 17/4/2008 20:05

Syngenta "neutral," target price raised
11:33a.m. - J.P. Morgan Securities
LONDON, April 17 (newratings.com) - Analysts at JP Morgan maintain their "neutral" rating on Syngenta AG (SVJ), while raising their estimates for the company. The target price has been raised from CHF295 to CHF315.

In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that the company is likely to post 24.7% sales growth in 1Q. Syngenta is well positioned to benefit from the rising farm incomes, the analysts say. The EPS estimates for FY09 and FY10 have been raised from $14.93 to $16.84 and from $16.52 to $18.82, respectively, reflecting favourable currency effects, price momentum in the glyphosate-based herbicides and robust underlying volume growth

[waldron] 05/4/2008 16:16

2008:
Q1 trading statement 22 April 2008
AGM 22 April 2008
2008 Half year results 24 July 2008
Q3 trading statement 23 October 2008

[grupo guitarlumber] 05/4/2008 10:22

Syngenta upgraded to "buy"
04/04/08 - UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking
LONDON, April 4 (newratings.com) - Analyst Andreas Heine of UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking upgrades Syngenta AG (SVJ) from "sell" to "buy." The target price has been raised from CHF259 to CHF332.

In a research note published yesterday, the analyst mentions that the company has reported 20% sales growth in local currencies for 1Q08, significantly ahead of the estimates. Syngenta's sales were driven largely by volumes and also possibly by price hikes, the analyst says. A significantly improved pricing situation in the crop protection market was triggered by a sharp rise in the prices for non-selective herbicides, and now this trend seems to be spreading to other segments as well, UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking adds. The pricing power seems to be sustainable and the company is likely to generate 33% EPS growth in 2008, ahead of the new guidance, according to the analyst.

[waldron] 13/11/2007 19:52

Syngenta Shares Decline After Agricultural Peers Fall (Update2)

By Antonio Ligi

Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Syngenta AG, the world's biggest maker of agricultural chemicals, fell the most in more than three years after German fertilizer producer K+S AG cut full- year profit targets and shares of farm chemical and seed rivals declined.

Syngenta, based in Basel, Switzerland, dropped as much as 18.75 francs to 250 francs, the steepest slide since Feb. 20, 2003, and closed down 2.5 percent at 262 francs.

``The agrochemical bubble for U.S. fertilizers companies seems to be starting to burst,'' Patrick Lambert, an analyst at Cheuvreux in Zurich, said by telephone. Monsanto Co., the world's largest seed producer, lost 7.8 percent in the U.S. yesterday and Yara International ASA, the biggest fertilizer producer, fell 6.2 percent in Oslo.

Potash, used in fertilizer, is mostly produced in countries that do not use the dollar while the majority of payments are made in the U.S. currency, Kassel, Germany-based K+S said today. Syngenta reports in U.S. dollars while it has costs in other currencies. The euro has gained 10.82 percent against the U.S. currency this year.

``After a good performance this year not only K+S but also Monsanto and Yara are falling and Syngenta seems to be following this trend,'' Lambert of Cheuvreux said. He has a ``buy'' rating on Syngenta.

``We do not believe that the profit taking should apply to Syngenta, whose valuation has been strictly reflecting operational improvements,'' he said. He raised the target price to 310 francs from 275 francs today citing the company's ``strong'' pipeline of new crop protection products.

To contact the reporter on this story: Antonio Ligi in Zurich at [e-mail]

Last Updated: November 13, 2007 12:08 EST

[waldron] 18/10/2007 08:56

Syngenta Ag 3rd Quarter Results




RNS Number:9224F
Syngenta AG
18 October 2007


Media Release


Third Quarter Trading Statement 2007

Basel, Switzerland, 18 October 2007

Third quarter sales increased by 21% to $1.7 billion; at constant exchange rates
(CER) sales were 17% higher. For the first nine months sales rose 9% (CER) to
$7.4 billion.

In Crop Protection, third quarter sales rose 16% (CER) with growth across all
regions. The main impetus came from Latin America where the strength of the
portfolio was fully exploited in a strong market, notably Brazil and Argentina.
In Europe, exceptional disease pressure in fruit and vegetables contributed to
increased fungicide sales in major markets. Double digit growth in NAFTA
reflected a strong US performance, particularly in herbicides. In Asia Pacific,
continued progress in China, India and the emerging markets of South East Asia
more than offset lower sales in Japan. For the first nine months, sales of new
products rose 19% to $949 million led by AXIAL(R), ACTARA(R), CRUISER(R) and
CALLISTO(R).

Seeds sales rose 23% (CER) in the quarter driven largely by growth in Corn &
Soybean in Latin America. Vegetables continued to deliver good growth with
further expansion in Europe and emerging markets. The performance in Flowers
reflected the consolidation of Fischer, acquired in the first half.

For the full year, continued strong performance enables the company to increase
its 2007 target to high teens growth in earnings per share*.

* Fully diluted, before restructuring, impairment, non-recurring income and
share repurchase program.



Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture
through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop
protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in
2006 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs some 21,000 people in
over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in
New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.



Media Enquiries: Medard Schoenmaeckers (Switzerland) [phone]
Sarah Hull (US) [phone]

Analysts/Investors: Jonathan Seabrook [phone]
[phone]

Jennifer Gough [phone]
[phone]



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by
terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', '
prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such
statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual
results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's
publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for
information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results,
changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form
part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any
offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or
Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection
with, any contract therefore.

Unaudited Nine Months Product Line and Regional Sales

Syngenta 9 Months 2007 9 Months 2006 Actual CER(1)

$m $m % %
Crop Protection 5739 5119 + 12 + 9
Seeds 1701 1541 + 10 + 7
Plant Science 3 1 - -
Inter-segment elimination(2) (44) (51) - -
Third Party Sales 7399 6610 + 12 + 9

Crop Protection
Product line
Selective herbicides 1709 1568 + 9 + 6
Non-selective herbicides 711 601 + 18 + 15
Fungicides 1556 1346 + 16 + 11
Insecticides 936 854 + 10 + 6
Professional products 800 709 + 13 + 11
Others 27 41 - 34 - 35
Total 5739 5119 + 12 + 9
Regional
Europe, Africa and Middle East 2123 1834 + 16 + 8
NAFTA 1935 1882 + 3 + 3
Latin America 861 635 + 36 + 36
Asia Pacific 820 768 + 7 + 3
Total 5739 5119 + 12 + 9

Seeds
Product line
Corn & Soybean 795 745 + 7 + 5
Diverse Field Crops 298 278 + 7 + 1
Vegetables and Flowers 608 518 + 17 + 12
Total 1701 1541 + 10 + 7
Regional
Europe, Africa and Middle East 706 617 + 14 + 6
NAFTA 785 766 + 3 + 3
Latin America 112 79 + 42 + 42
Asia Pacific 98 79 + 23 + 16
Total 1701 1541 + 10 + 7



(1) Growth at constant exchange rates.

(2) Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.


Unaudited Third Quarter Product Line and Regional Sales

Syngenta 3rd Quarter 2007 3rd Quarter 2006 Actual CER(1)

$m $m % %
Crop Protection 1436 1203 + 19 + 16
Seeds 283 222 + 28 + 23
Plant Science 1 0 - -
Inter-segment elimination(2) (11) (14) - -
Third Party Sales 1709 1411 + 21 + 17

Crop Protection
Product line
Selective herbicides 286 255 + 12 + 9
Non-selective herbicides 250 179 + 40 + 36
Fungicides 373 281 + 32 + 28
Insecticides 272 252 + 8 + 5
Professional products 246 219 + 12 + 10
Others 9 17 - 48 - 51
Total 1436 1203 + 19 + 16
Regional
Europe, Africa and Middle East 452 382 + 18 + 12
NAFTA 339 303 + 12 + 11
Latin America 412 308 + 34 + 34
Asia Pacific 233 210 + 11 + 4
Total 1436 1203 + 19 + 16

Seeds
Product line
Corn & Soybean 63 37 + 68 + 66
Diverse Field Crops 44 36 + 23 + 14
Vegetables and Flowers 176 149 + 19 + 14
Total 283 222 + 28 + 23
Regional
Europe, Africa and Middle East 129 100 + 29 + 20
NAFTA 63 50 + 26 + 26
Latin America 63 44 + 43 + 43
Asia Pacific 28 28 + 3 - 4
Total 283 222 + 28 + 23



(1) Growth at constant exchange rates.

(2) Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.








This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

QRTMPBFTMMBBMIR

[waldron] 18/10/2007 08:54

Syngenta Q3 sales beats forecast boosted by Latin America demand UPDATE




(updating with more details on full year forecast, sector sales)
ZURICH (Thomson Financial) - Syngenta posted forecast-beating third-quarter
sales today, boosted by demand from Latin America, while in Europe, exceptional
disease pressure in crops led to increased fungicide sales in major markets.
Group sales for the period reached 1.709 bln usd from 1.411 bln a year
earlier, comfortably beating analysts' forecasted range of 1.411-1.585 bln usd,
or 1.548 bln on average.
The agribusiness group said continued strong performance has allowed the
company to increase its target for the year to high-teens growth in earnings per
share.
In segments, crop protection sales reached 1.436 bln usd, from 1.203 bln a
year earlier, above the forecasted range of 1.203-1.341 bln usd, or 1.308 bln on
average.
The main growth driver was Latin America, while in Europe, fungicide demand
was strong due to exceptional disease on crops.
In Asia Pacific, growth in China, India and South East Asia more than offset
lower sales in Japan, the company said.
Meanwhile, its seeds division posted sales at 283 mln usd, from 222 mln a
year earlier, and above analysts' projection of 222-259 mln usd, or 243 mln on
average.
The 23 pct growth in seeds sales was driven mainly by demand in corn and
soybean in Latin America.
[e-mail]
at/hmn/jfr

[ariane] 17/9/2007 14:33

Monsanto increases 2007 EPS guidance to 1.79 usd, 2.00 usd ongoing


LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Agrochemical giant Monsanto Company announced
that its fiscal year 2007 ongoing earnings per share (EPS) guidance is now
expected to be approximately 1.79 usd on a reported basis, or 2.00 usd on an
ongoing basis.
The company had previously estimated that its fiscal year 2007 EPS would be
in the range of 1.75-1.80 usd on an ongoing basis.
Monsanto noted that several factors are contributing to its
better-than-anticipated results, including a full-year effective tax rate on
continuing operations of approximately 30 pct.
The company also cited continued strong results in corn globally, reflecting
strong, early sales of corn seeds in Brazil and Argentina which were higher than
originally anticipated.
It also noted better-than-expected pricing for its Roundup business: while
sales of Roundup were flat in the fourth quarter, prices were higher than the
company had originally expectations.
The company also announced that it now expects that its free cash flow for
fiscal year 2007 will be a use of approximately 60 mln usd, compared with its
previous guidance of a use of 200-250 mln usd.
The company's free cash flow guidance for the 2007 fiscal year reflects the
cash effect of Monsanto's 1.5 bln usd acquisition D&PL, as well as the receipt
of 317 mln usd for the sale of the Stoneville and NexGen cottonseed businesses.
[e-mail]
rw

[ariane] 15/9/2007 07:36

Personal Finance: Stop Trading!




Jim Cramer's Stop Trading! Buy Monsanto

By TheStreet.com Staff
9/14/2007 2:53 PM EDT




Buy Monsanto (MON - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and Syngenta (SYT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Jim Cramer said Friday on CNBC's "Stop Trading!" segment.

Cramer said the agricultural bull market is a "rising tide" for all the seed stocks, from Monsanto and Syngenta on down to DuPont (DD - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating). Cramer concedes that Monsanto is pricey -- around 40 times earnings, the same multiple as Celgene (CELG - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating), Cramer said -- but he says its opportunity is greater because it owns more patents than Syngenta and Americans are more positive about genetic engineering than Europeans.

That said, Cramer would also buy Syngenta because he believes it's a well-run company with a great opportunity as the bull market in farm stocks continues to gallop.

[ariane] 14/9/2007 17:34

Swiss shares close broadly lower on fresh credit mkt fears, weak US data UPDATE
Date : 14/09/2007 @ 17:09
Source : TFN


Swiss shares close broadly lower on fresh credit mkt fears, weak US data UPDATE


(Updating with full report)
ZURICH (Thomson Financial) - Share prices closed broadly lower in-line with
markets across Europe, with news of UK mortgage lender Northern Rock being
forced to seek emergency funding from the Bank of England sending financials
lower.
The Swiss Market Index closed 105.47 points or 1.1 pct lower at 8,772.58,
and the Swiss Performance Index down 83.89 points at 7,121.90.
The euro rose slightly against the Swiss franc to 1.6491 sfr, and the dollar
climbed to 1.900 sfr.
News that UK mortgage lender Northern Rock has asked the Bank of England for
emergency funding in connection with the US subprime market crisis, prompted a
round of selling before the weekend, a Zurich-based trader said.
The bad news was compounded by US retail sales figures for August, which
came in weaker than expected, he said.
Financials were among the biggest decliners, with Julius Baer shedding 2.6
pct or 2.05 sfr to 77.15, and Credit Suisse decreasing 1.7 pct or 1.30 to 76.45.
UBS closed down 1 pct or 0.65 sfr at 61.55.
Adecco was another major loser, declining 2.3 pct or 1.70 sfr to 71.70, as
was Holcim, off 2.1 pct or 2.60 to 121.30 sfr, as fresh economic concern weighed
on cyclical stocks.
Heavyweight Nestle was down 6.50 at 524.50 sfr.
Pharmaceuticals closed lower, with Novartis down 0.50 to 64.75, and Roche
down 1.70 at 207.50 sfr, on news that the US Food and Drug Administration has
asked an advisory panel to review Genentech Inc's Avastin for first-line
treatment for metastatic breast cancer, potentially delaying the drug's approval
for a second time.
Roche is a major shareholder in the US pharmaceuticals group.
Nobel Biocare was the sector's worst performer, shedding 2.2 pct or 7 sfr to
309, continuing its recent downward trend.
Syngenta was the market's only gainer, adding 1 pct ro 2.40 to 239 sfr, with
Swiss broker Kepler initiating coverage of the agribusiness group with a 'buy'
recommendation and 265 sfr price target.
[e-mail]
at/dca/at/jlc/at/jlc

[waldron] 28/8/2007 07:40

Syngenta Ag Syngenta Media Release


RNS Number:8442C
Syngenta AG
28 August 2007


Media Release


Syngenta introduces tropical sugar beet for food and biofuels


Basel, Switzerland/ Mumbai, India, August, 28, 2007

Syngenta has introduced sugar beet in India for cultivation in tropical climatic
conditions. Tropical sugar beet brings significant agronomic, environmental and
output advantages to Indian farming and the Indian economy. The beet delivers
similar output yields to sugar cane and can be used both for processing sugar
for food and conversion to bio-ethanol.

The new sugar beet can be grown in relatively dry areas with substantially less
water than typically required by sugar cane. It is faster growing and can be
harvested after five months allowing farmers to grow a second crop on the same
land, thus increasing agricultural output and raising farmer income.


Syngenta is engaged in two tropical sugar beet projects:


- Sugar for food: at Ambad near Jalna, Maharashtra, Samarth Cooperative
Sugar Mill has commissioned a pilot plant for processing tropical beet in
co-operation with the Vasantdada Sugar Institute. First harvests delivered
the expected high yield of top-quality sugar;


- Sugar for fuel: at Kalas, near Pune, Syngenta co-operates with over
12,000 farmers linked to Harneshwar Agro Products, Power and Yeast Ltd,
which built and operates a bio-ethanol production plant processing
Syngenta tropical beet. The faster growth of tropical beets increases
annual ethanol output over sugar cane.


"The Indian government is highly interested in Syngenta's technological
capabilities to support growth of India's agricultural sector", said Hon. Mr
Sharad Pawar, India's Minister for Food and Agriculture. "The successful
introduction of sugar beet leads to higher sugar output available for food and
energy in a shorter period and using less water. I am sure the Indian sugar
industry will happily work together with Syngenta to further optimize the crop
and introduce it to growers across the country."


Robert Berendes, Head of Business Development at Syngenta added: "This is a
unique project that benefits growers, consumers and the environment. It is an
outstanding example of the application of our technology to enhancing
agricultural productivity under conditions of climatic stress."


Development of tropical sugar beet took over ten years, building on Syngenta's
extensive breeding know-how and technology base. The company will explore use of
tropical sugar beet in other tropical regions with poor soil conditions.


Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture
through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop
protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in
2006 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs around 21,000 people in
over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in
New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.


Media Enquiries: Medard Schoenmaeckers (Switzerland) [phone]
Sarah Hull (US) [phone]

Analysts/Investors: Jonathan Seabrook [phone]
[phone]
Jennifer Gough [phone]
[phone]



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by
terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', '
prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such
statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual
results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's
publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for
information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results,
changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form
part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any
offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or
Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection
with, any contract therefor.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

RESSEISIASWSEIA

[waldron] 26/8/2007 08:08

Monsanto Sues Unnamed French Vandals for Corn Attacks (Update1)

By Heather Smith

Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed producer, sued unidentified people for destroying corn seeds in two incidents this past week in France.

Monsanto France, a division of the St. Louis-based company, filed a criminal complaint against ``X'' for destroying four types of corn the company was testing, it said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday.

No one was arrested during the attack in the night of Aug. 20-21 in Mauroux, southwestern France. On Aug. 18, dozens of vandals were arrested in Poinville, in the nation's center, for destroying experimental corn seeds. Monsanto filed a similar complaint following that attack. It estimated its combined loss at 100,000 euros ($137,000).

The vandals ``proved their irrationality'' regarding science by destroying the test seeds, Yann Fichet, Monsanto France's director of external relations, said in the statement.

In both instances, the seeds were created to increase their resistance to pests or to increase their tolerance of herbicides.

Monsanto focuses on corn, cotton and oilseeds, as well as small-acre crops, to develop seeds with genetic makeups that will provide the highest yield while protecting the plants against environmental factors such as disease, insect damage and weed competition, according to the Web site.

The company invests about $1.5 million a day to bring to market technologies beneficial to farmers, Monsanto said on its Web site. The company forecasts that, based on population projections in the next 20 years, per-acre production under cultivation will have to increase by as much as 75 percent.

Monsanto uses plant biotechnology, genomics and molecular breeding to make farms more productive, the Web site said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Heather Smith in Paris at [e-mail]

Last Updated: August 25, 2007 15:44 EDT

[waldron] 22/8/2007 11:15

Syngenta's GM Agrisure RW maize seed cleared in Japan for use in animal feed


ZURICH (Thomson Financial) - Syngenta AG said that Japanese authorities have
given approval for its genetically modified Agrisure RW maize seed to be used
for producing animal feed, adding that the seed was cleared there for use as a
food for humans on Aug 17.
A Syngenta spokesman added that environmental clearance is expected "in due
course".
Following the clearance, US farmers will be able to export Agrisure RW maize
to Japan. It had been made available to them in limited quantities for the 2007
growing season.
[e-mail]
ra/jsa/lam

[waldron] 15/6/2007 15:31

AFX News Limited
Syngenta ratings lifted to A/A-1 on healthy balance sheet - S&P
06.15.07, 7:04 AM ET





MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has raised its long- and short-term corporate credit ratings on Switzerland-based crop protection and seeds manufacturer Syngenta AG to 'A/A-1' from 'A-/A-2', owing to its maintenance of a healthy balance sheet.

The outlook is stable, S&P said.

'The upgrade reflects Syngenta's conservative financial policy, continuously strong cash flow protection ratios, good industry prospects for 2007, and an improved portfolio mix with a larger part of revenues to be generated from seeds over the coming years,' S&P added.

It said the stable outlook reflects its expectation that Syngenta will continue to balance acquisitions, shareholder returns, and investments to achieve adequate cash flow protection ratios for the assigned rating.

'Acquisitions of up to 1 bln usd seem manageable within the current rating,' S&P added.

[e-mail]

jro