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 April 2008
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: |
"Q1
2008 sales: Capturing opportunity in expanding
markets"
|
| Press Release: |
"Syngenta
holds Annual General
Meeting"
|
Filed
herewith are press releases related to Syngenta AG. The full text of the
press releases follow:
# #
#
Item
1
|
Syngenta International AG
Media
Office
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
Tel:
+41 61 323 23 23
Fax: +41
61 323 24 24
www.syngenta.com
|
Médard
Schoenmaeckers
Switzerland
+41 61 323 2323
Sarah
Hull
USA
+1 202 628 2372
|
Jennifer
Gough
Switzerland
+41 61 323 5059
USA
+1 202 737 6521
Jonathan
Seabrook
Switzerland +41
61 323 7502
USA
+1 202 737 6520
|
Q1
2008 sales: Capturing opportunity in expanding markets
Sales in the first
quarter of 2008 increased by 20 percent at constant exchange rates
(CER). Reported sales benefited from the weakness of the dollar and
were 28 percent higher at $3.8 billion. Substantial volume growth was
supplemented by a three percent increase in pricing.
In Crop Protection
sales were 22 percent higher (CER) with a strong start to the Northern
hemisphere season and continued momentum in Latin America. Western
and Eastern Europe both achieved high growth rates as growers prepared to step
up usage intensity and increase plantings of corn as well as
cereals. In NAFTA, performance was driven by demand for wheat and
corn fungicides and by strong growth in non-selective herbicides and
professional products. In Asia Pacific, emerging markets continued to
expand rapidly and Australia saw more favourable weather
conditions.
All product lines
contributed to growth with the most notable performances coming from
non-selective herbicides, driven by TOUCHDOWN® and
GRAMOXONE®, and
fungicides, led by a surge in sales of AMISTAR® for
cereals and corn. In selective herbicides, insecticides and
professional products, recent launches played a key role with strong growth in
AXIAL®,
ACTARA® and
CRUISER®; overall
new product sales rose by 24 percent to $487 million.
Seeds sales were 13
percent higher (CER). In the USA growth in soybean offset the impact
of lower corn acreage, while corn sales expanded rapidly in Europe, Latin
America and Asia. Sales of diverse field crops reflected increased
sunflower demand, notably in Eastern Europe. In vegetables and
flowers, strong growth in vegetables was augmented by the consolidation of
Zeraim Gedera and Fischer.
While the first
quarter growth rate is unlikely to be sustained throughout the year, the early
momentum leads the company to expect that full year earnings per share* growth
is likely to exceed 20 percent.
*
Fully diluted, excluding 2007 non-recurring income, restructuring, impairment
and share repurchase program.
Syngenta – April 22,
2008 / Page 1 of 3
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 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over 21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.
|
Safe
Harbor: 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
therefore.
|
Syngenta – April 22,
2008 / Page 2 of 3
Unaudited
First Quarter Product Line and Regional Sales
|
Syngenta
|
3
Months 2008
$m
|
3
Months 2007
$m
|
Actual
%
|
CER(1)
%
|
|
|
Crop
Protection
|
2674
|
2044
|
+
31
|
+
22
|
|
|
Seeds
|
1127
|
940
|
+
20
|
+
13
|
|
|
Business
Development
|
2
|
1
|
+
256
|
+
256
|
|
|
Inter-segment
elimination(2)
|
(14)
|
(28)
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Third
Party Sales
|
3789
|
2957
|
+
28
|
+
20
|
|
|
Crop
Protection
|
|||||
|
Product
line
|
|||||
|
Selective
herbicides
|
775
|
636
|
+
22
|
+
12
|
|
|
Non-selective
herbicides
|
305
|
184
|
+
66
|
+
57
|
|
|
Fungicides
|
776
|
577
|
+
34
|
+
24
|
|
|
Insecticides
|
404
|
317
|
+
27
|
+
20
|
|
|
Professional
products
|
399
|
319
|
+
25
|
+
19
|
|
|
Others
|
15
|
11
|
+
39
|
+
36
|
|
|
Total
|
2674
|
2044
|
+
31
|
+
22
|
|
|
Regional
|
|||||
|
Europe, Africa
and Middle East
|
1116
|
829
|
+
35
|
+
19
|
|
|
NAFTA
|
790
|
682
|
+
16
|
+
11
|
|
|
Latin
America
|
380
|
231
|
+
64
|
+
64
|
|
|
Asia
Pacific
|
388
|
302
|
+
28
|
+
20
|
|
|
Total
|
2674
|
2044
|
+
31
|
+
22
|
|
|
Seeds
|
|||||
|
Product
line
|
|||||
|
Corn &
Soybean
|
620
|
557
|
+
11
|
+
7
|
|
|
Diverse Field
Crops
|
202
|
168
|
+
20
|
+
8
|
|
|
Vegetables and
Flowers
|
305
|
215
|
+
42
|
+
30
|
|
|
Total
|
1127
|
940
|
+
20
|
+
13
|
|
|
Regional
|
|||||
|
Europe, Africa
and Middle East
|
525
|
383
|
+
37
|
+
21
|
|
|
NAFTA
|
530
|
507
|
+
4
|
+
4
|
|
|
Latin
America
|
33
|
20
|
+
71
|
+
71
|
|
|
Asia
Pacific
|
39
|
30
|
+
27
|
+
17
|
|
|
Total
|
1127
|
940
|
+
20
|
+
13
|
|
(1) Growth
at constant exchange rates.
(2) Crop
Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.
Syngenta – April 22,
2008 / Page 3 of 3
Item
2
|
Syngenta International AG
Media
Office
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
Tel:
+41 61 323 23 23
Fax: +41
61 323 24 24
www.syngenta.com
|
Médard
Schoenmaeckers
Switzerland
+41 61 323 2323
Sarah
Hull
USA
+1 202 628 2372
|
Jennifer
Gough
Switzerland
+41 61 323 5059
USA
+1 202 737 6521
Jonathan
Seabrook
Switzerland +41
61 323 7502
USA
+1 202 737 6520
|
Syngenta
holds Annual General Meeting
At the Annual
General Meeting of Syngenta AG, the 910 shareholders representing 27.90% of the
total shares approved all the motions proposed by the Board of
Directors.
Shareholders
approved a dividend of CHF4.80 per share for the business year 2007, resulting
in an increase of 26.3% in pay-out to shareholders. Shareholders also approved a
reduction of the share capital through the cancellation of 3,848,410 shares,
which the Company had repurchased in 2007 within the scope of the approved
repurchase program.
Michael Mack, CEO of
Syngenta, was elected as a new member of the Board of Directors. Martin Taylor,
Peter Thompson, Rolf Watter and Felix A. Weber were re-elected to the
Board.
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 2007 were approximately $9.2
billion. Syngenta employs over 21,000 people in more than
90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange
(SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at
www.syngenta.com.
The speech of the
Chairman, the presentation of the CEO and pictures of the Annual General Meeting
can be found at www.syngenta.com/agm.
|
Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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 – April 22,
2008 / Page 1 of 1
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: April 22, 2008 | By: | /s/ Christoph Mäder | ||
| Name: | Christoph Mäder | |||
|
Title:
|
Head Legal & Taxes | |||