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 October 2004
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: Third Quarter Trading Statement 2004 | |
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 | |
Third Quarter Trading Statement 2004
Basel, Switzerland, 22 October 2004
Sales in the third quarter of 2004 increased by 17% to $1.4bn (2003: $1.2bn) and at constant exchange rates (CER) by 14%. Sales for the first nine months were 8% higher (CER) at $6bn.
Crop Protection sales in the third quarter rose 12% (CER) to $1.2bn. Sales in the low season in Europe, Africa and Middle East continued to demonstrate the strength witnessed in the first half with herbicides performing particularly well. The new season in Latin America started strongly, notably in Brazil, driven by high early demand for fungicides. Sales growth accelerated in Asia-Pacific with a good performance in Japan and India. In NAFTA, performance was driven by Professional Products, the continuing success of the CALLISTO® range and by fungicides, especially AMISTAR®. On a global basis, all product lines increased sales apart from insecticides which were slightly lower following an exceptionally strong first half. Growth in sales of new products for the quarter was $26m; total sales of new products for the first nine months reached $554m.
Seeds sales in the third quarter rose 28% (CER) to $0.2bn. Field crop sales benefited from timing differences in the USA and strong early demand in Brazil. Growth in Vegetables and Flowers reflected both expanding consumer demand and the consolidation of Dulcinea Farms and Dia-Engei.
For the full year 2004, sales growth is expected to be in line with first half performance, leading to earnings per share1 growth of around 60 per cent.
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 2003 were approximately $6.6 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 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.
| Media Enquiries: | Switzerland: | Markus Payer | Tel: +41 (61) 323 2323 | |||
| USA: | Sarah Hull | Tel: +1 (202) 347 8348 | ||||
| Analysts/Investors: | Switzerland: | Jonathan Seabrook | Tel: +41 (61) 323 7502 | |||
| Jennifer Gough | Tel: +41 (61) 323 5059 | |||||
| USA: | Rhonda Chiger | Tel: +1 (917) 322 2569 | ||||
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.
1 fully diluted, before restructuring and impairment and one-off tax credit
Syngenta Third Quarter Trading Statement 2004 / Page 1 of 3
| Unaudited Nine Months Product Line and Regional Sales | |||||||||||
| Syngenta | 9 Months 2004 | 9 Months 2003 | Actual(1) | CER(1)(2) | Ex RR (1)(3) | ||||||
| $m | $m | % | % | % | |||||||
| Crop Protection | 4908 | 4386 | + 12 | + 7 | + 8 | ||||||
| Seeds | 1054 | 892 | + 18 | + 12 | + 12 | ||||||
| Total | 5962 | 5278 | + 13 | + 8 | + 9 | ||||||
| Crop Protection | |||||||||||
| Product line | |||||||||||
| Selective herbicides | 1571 | 1432 | + 10 | + 5 | + 6 | ||||||
| Non-selective herbicides | 541 | 509 | + 7 | + 4 | + 4 | ||||||
| Fungicides | 1338 | 1122 | + 19 | + 13 | + 13 | ||||||
| Insecticides | 806 | 718 | + 13 | + 9 | + 9 | ||||||
| Professional products | 560 | 499 | + 11 | + 7 | + 9 | ||||||
| Others | 92 | 106 | - 14 | - 20 | - 20 | ||||||
| Total | 4908 | 4386 | + 12 | + 7 | + 8 | ||||||
| Regional | |||||||||||
| Europe, Africa and Middle East | 1933 | 1677 | + 15 | + 6 | + 6 | ||||||
| NAFTA | 1679 | 1634 | + 3 | + 2 | + 3 | ||||||
| Latin America | 623 | 471 | + 32 | + 32 | + 33 | ||||||
| Asia Pacific | 673 | 604 | + 11 | + 5 | + 5 | ||||||
| Total | 4908 | 4386 | + 12 | + 7 | + 8 | ||||||
| Seeds | |||||||||||
| Product line | |||||||||||
| Field Crops | 572 | 488 | + 17 | + 11 | + 11 | ||||||
| Vegetables and Flowers | 482 | 404 | + 19 | + 12 | + 12 | ||||||
| Total | 1054 | 892 | + 18 | + 12 | + 12 | ||||||
| Regional | |||||||||||
| Europe, Africa and Middle East | 558 | 486 | + 15 | + 4 | + 4 | ||||||
| NAFTA | 376 | 308 | + 22 | + 21 | + 21 | ||||||
| Latin America | 63 | 55 | + 14 | + 14 | + 14 | ||||||
| Asia Pacific | 57 | 43 | + 33 | + 25 | + 25 | ||||||
| Total | 1054 | 892 | + 18 | + 12 | + 12 | ||||||
| (1) | Product line variances take into account minor reclassifications made in 2004 |
| (2) | Growth at constant exchange rates |
| (3) | Growth at constant exchange rates excluding the effects of range rationalization |
Syngenta Third Quarter Trading Statement 2004 / page 2 of 3
| Unaudited Third Quarter Product Line and Regional Sales | ||||||||||
| Syngenta | 3rd Quarter 2004 | 3rd Quarter 2003 | Actual(1) | CER(1)(2) | Ex RR (1)(3) | |||||
| $m | $m | % | % | % | ||||||
| Crop Protection | 1166 | 1016 | + 15 | + 12 | + 13 | |||||
| Seeds | 208 | 157 | + 32 | + 28 | + 28 | |||||
| Total | 1374 | 1173 | + 17 | + 14 | + 15 | |||||
| Crop Protection | ||||||||||
| Product line | ||||||||||
| Selective herbicides | 281 | 245 | + 15 | + 12 | + 14 | |||||
| Non-selective herbicides | 165 | 145 | + 14 | + 12 | + 12 | |||||
| Fungicides | 290 | 224 | + 30 | + 27 | + 27 | |||||
| Insecticides | 209 | 212 | - 1 | - 2 | - 2 | |||||
| Professional products | 190 | 171 | + 9 | + 6 | + 6 | |||||
| Others | 31 | 19 | + 62 | + 54 | + 54 | |||||
| Total | 1166 | 1016 | + 15 | + 12 | + 13 | |||||
| Regional | ||||||||||
| Europe, Africa and Middle East | 394 | 342 | + 15 | + 8 | + 8 | |||||
| NAFTA | 299 | 289 | + 4 | + 4 | + 4 | |||||
| Latin America | 286 | 228 | + 25 | + 25 | + 26 | |||||
| Asia Pacific | 187 | 157 | + 19 | + 17 | + 18 | |||||
| Total | 1166 | 1016 | + 15 | + 12 | + 13 | |||||
| Seeds | ||||||||||
| Product line | ||||||||||
| Field Crops | 87 | 58 | + 48 | + 44 | + 44 | |||||
| Vegetables and Flowers | 121 | 99 | + 23 | + 18 | + 18 | |||||
| Total | 208 | 157 | + 32 | + 28 | + 28 | |||||
| Regional | ||||||||||
| Europe, Africa and Middle East | 97 | 92 | + 5 | - 3 | - 3 | |||||
| NAFTA | 58 | 22 | + 164 | + 164 | + 164 | |||||
| Latin America | 36 | 30 | + 20 | + 20 | + 20 | |||||
| Asia Pacific | 17 | 13 | + 29 | + 25 | + 25 | |||||
| Total | 208 | 157 | + 32 | + 28 | + 28 | |||||
| (1) | Product line variances take into account minor reclassifications made in 2004 |
| (2) | Growth at constant exchange rates |
| (3) | Growth at constant exchange rates excluding the effects of range rationalization |
Syngenta Third Quarter Trading Statement 2004 / page 3 of 3
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: | October 22, 2004 | By: | /s/ Daniel Michaelis | |
| Name: | Daniel Michaelis | |||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
| By: | /s/ Otto Schürmann | |||
| Name: | Otto Schürmann | |||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||