Syngenta AG (SYT)

Seeds Acquisitions and Reallocation of Trait Development Costs to Seeds

On September 1, 2004, after Fox Paine 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.Vs 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$325 million. Syngenta retains a 90% interest in Advantas former corn, soybean and wheat seed business in North America, which trades as Garst.

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.

These transactions are described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. The acquisitions significantly enhance Syngentas share in the US corn and soybean seeds markets, reported within Field Crops. However, with completion of the transactions after the end of the main 2004 selling season, the acquisitions did not significantly contribute to sales in 2004. Following the acquisitions, corn and soybean trait development expenditure has been transferred to Seeds, where future revenues will be realized; these costs have been reallocated from Plant Science to Seeds with retrospective effect as shown in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.