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This excerpt taken from the SYT 20-F filed Mar 1, 2006. GALECRON Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. is involved in one lawsuit stemming from the GALECRON class action. GALECRON (active ingredient chlordimeform) is an insecticide
which was produced by Ciba-Geigy from 1968 to 1976 and 1978 to 1988. Scientific studies have indicated an increased incidence of bladder cancer among production workers exposed to 4-cot, a metabolite of chlordimeform. In 1994 workers exposed to
GALECRON at manufacturing and formulation sites, as well as applicators of the product, filed a class action in the United States which was settled the same year. The settlement required Ciba-Geigy (predecessor in interest to Novartis and Syngenta)
to expand its monitoring program to individuals occupationally exposed to GALECRON and to compensate these individuals for certain covered conditions and procedures. Individuals were permitted to bring separate lawsuits for occupational exposure to
GALECRON only if they opted out of the class action settlement. There is still 1 opt-out case pending against Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. alleging various injuries. While over 100 other individuals opted out of the class action, they have yet to
file suit. As time passes, the applicable statutes of limitation will bar many of these potential lawsuits. A substantial portion of the costs of the class action settlement, as well as the opt-out litigation, are likely to be covered by the
Syngenta’s insurers, subject to applicable deductibles.
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