FORM
6-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For
the
month of July 2007
Commission
File Number: 001-15152
SYNGENTA
AG
(Translation
of registrant’s name into English)
Schwarzwaldallee
215
4058
Basel
Switzerland
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
|
Form
20-F
|
X
|
Form
40-F
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
|
Yes
|
No
|
X
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
|
Yes
|
No
|
X
|
Indicate
by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form,
the
Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant
to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
|
Yes
|
No
|
X
|
If
“Yes”
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A
| Re: | SYNGENTA AG |
| Press Release: |
“Syngenta
reinforces vegetable seeds with Zeraim Gedera
acquisition”
|
Filed
herewith is a press release related to Syngenta AG. The full text of the
press
release follows:
#
#
#
Item
1
| Syngenta International AG | ||
| Media Office | ||
| CH-4002 Basel | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| Telephone: | +41 61 323 23 23 | |
| Fax: | +41 61 323 24 24 | |
| www.syngenta.com | ||
| Media Release |
Syngenta
reinforces vegetable seeds with Zeraim Gedera
acquisition
Basel,
Switzerland, July 9, 2007
Syngenta
announced
today that it has agreed to acquire Zeraim Gedera Ltd., a high quality
Israeli
vegetable seeds company focusing on high-value crops, including tomato,
pepper
and melon. Syngenta will buy all outstanding shares in the company
from
Markstone Capital Partners, an Israeli private equity group, for a
consideration
of $95 million, subject to closing adjustments. Sales in 2006 were
$33
million.
Israel
is well known
for high-quality germplasm and seed technologies. Zeraim Gedera has
outstanding
breeding capabilities as well as longstanding relationships with Israeli
research institutes and universities. This acquisition will reinforce
the growth
and quality of Syngenta’s vegetable seeds business.
Mike
Mack, Chief
Operating Officer Syngenta Seeds said: “This acquisition further expands
Syngenta’s position in high-value growth segments. Zeraim Gedera’s portfolio and
its strong presence in Mediterranean markets ideally complement our
vegetable
seeds business.”
Zeraim
Gedera was
originally founded in 1952. It focuses on six high-end vegetable products
for
growers and consumers: tomatoes, sweet peppers, watermelons, melons,
squash and
cucumbers. The business will continue to trade under the Zeraim
brand.
Syngenta
Vegetable
Seeds breeds, produces and markets superior quality proprietary vegetable
seeds.
The business operates globally under regional brands including S&G®,
Rogers®,
Dulcinea®
and Dæhnfeldt®.
Its portfolio
includes tomato, pepper, sweet corn, watermelon, melon, brassica, lettuce,
cucumber, leek, beans and peas.
The
transaction is
expected to close in 2007 pending regulatory approvals.
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.
Syngenta
–
July 9, 2007 / Page 1 of 2
|
Media
Enquiries:
|
Médard
Schoenmaeckers (Switzerland)
|
+41
61 323
2323
|
|
Sarah
Hull
(US)
|
+1
202 628
2372
|
|
|
Analysts/Investors:
|
Jonathan
Seabrook
|
+41
61 323
7502
|
|
+1
202 737
6520
|
||
|
Jennifer
Gough
|
+41
61 323
5059
|
|
|
+1
202 737
6521
|
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.
Syngenta
– July 9, 2007 / Page 2 of 2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
| SYNGENTA AG | |||
| |
|
|
|
| Date: July 9, 2007 | By: | /s/ Christoph Mäder | |
|
|
|||
| Name: | Christoph Mäder | ||
|
Title:
|
Head Legal & Taxes | ||