Vilmorin & Cie and KWS announced today the conclusion of additional long-term licensing agreements with Syngenta. They authorize Vilmorin & Cie, KWS and their common joint-ventures Genective (upstream research company) and AgReliant (North America. Field seeds) on a separate and independent basis, to make commercial use of current and future genetically improved corn traits developed and marketed by Syngenta. They also give them the possibility to complement the Genective corn traits platform.

The upfront payments made by the respective companies are totaling 200 million US dollars. Further payments depending on regulatory approvals may mature in the long run.

The agreements strengthen the ability of Vilmorin & Cie to deliver also in future high competitive products to its customers, in addition to the existing long-term trait licensing agreements.

  " Vilmorin & Cie considers these global trait licensing agreements with Syngenta a strong addition to its Field Seeds product portfolio for the markets where corn GM traits are established or will develop in the coming years. The ability to combine our highly competitive proprietary germplasm with a wider range of leading GM corn traits, including those of Genective, will increase the number of options offered to our corn customers around the world, helping them to meet future production challenges.

With these agreements, Vilmorin & Cie complements its technology platform and strengthens its strategy to deliver its own GM corn traits in the coming years." Emmanuel ROUGIER, CEO Vilmorin & Cie, commented.

  

COMING DISCLOSURES AND EVENTS (* at the end of trading on the Paris stock market):

Thursday November 5, 2015*: sales at the end of the first quarter 2015-2016

Friday November 20 and Saturday November 21, 2015: Actionaria Fair in Paris

Friday December 11, 2015: Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Paris

Tuesday December 15, 2015: dividend detachment

Thursday December 17, 2015: payment of the dividends

Vilmorin & Cie develops vegetable and field seeds with high added value to better meet global food requirements.

Accompanied by its reference shareholder, Limagrain, an international agricultural cooperative group, Vilmorin & Cie is currently the fourth largest seed company in the world.

True to its vision of sustainable development, Vilmorin & Cie relies on ongoing investments in research and international growth to strengthen its market shares. An ambition that is driven by its corporate culture which is based on the sharing of knowledge, quality of life and respect for the needs of mankind.

   

FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION:

Daniel JACQUEMOND
Chief Financial Officer
daniel.jacquemond@vilmorin.info

Valérie MONSÉRAT
Head of Financial Communication and Investor Relations
valerie.monserat@vilmorin.info

Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 63 44 85
Website: www.vilmorin.info:
http://www.vilmorin.info/

VILMORIN & CIE AND KWS CONCLUDE CORN TRAITS LICENSING AGREEMENTS:
http://hugin.info/143537/R/1958654/713861.pdf


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Source: VILMORIN & CIE via Globenewswire
HUG#1958654