Syngenta AG (SYT)

On July 31, 2004, in a single transaction, Syngenta acquired a 90% voting interest in each of the following entities which are collectively referred to as “Golden Harvest”: Garwood Seed Co.; Golden Seed Co. LLC; Golden Seed Co. Inc.; J C Robinson Seeds Inc.; Sommer Bros Seed Co.; Thorp Seed Co.; and Golden Harvest Seeds Inc. The cost of the acquisition, net of cash acquired, was US$154 million.

On September 1, 2004, after Fox Paine & Co acquired a 10% interest in the Advanta corn, soybean and wheat seed business in North America, Syngenta acquired 100% of the shares of Advanta B.V. On September 8, 2004, Syngenta sold Advanta B.V’s European, Asian and Latin American subsidiaries and other parts of its North America business to Fox Paine & Co. The net cash cost of acquisition, after deducting proceeds of assets purchased exclusively for resale and cash in the acquired companies was US$327 million. Syngenta retains a 90% interest in Advanta’s former corn, soybean and wheat seed business in North America, which trades as Garst^®.

These transactions are described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. Since completion of the transactions occurred after the end of the main 2004 selling season, their contribution to sales was largely in 2005 rather than 2004.