Press Releases

Monsanto Company has signed a letter of intent to sell its lawn-and-garden business exclusive of its Roundup herbicide products for residential use to The Scotts Company for $300 million. Brands included in this agreement are Ortho and White Swan in the United States, Green Cross in Canada, Phostrogen in the United Kingdom, and Defender in Australia.

Under a separate, long-term, exclusive agreement, Monsanto will continue to make Roundup herbicide for residential use, and Scotts will market the product.

"Ortho is one of the leading brands in the lawn-and-garden industry, and we're delighted that Scotts will be managing and strengthening that leadership position," said Monsanto President Hendrik A. Verfaillie. "We created tremendous value for the Roundup lawn-and-garden franchise during the time we owned Ortho, and we look forward to increasing that growth potential through our proposed agreement with Scotts."

Based in San Ramon, California, Monsantos lawn-and-garden business has more than 400 employees in operations in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, and major manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Corwen, United Kingdom.

While job selections have not been made yet, employees who are not offered jobs with either Scotts or Monsanto will be given severance packages.

Monsanto is a life sciences company, committed to finding solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by applying advanced bioscience and biotechnology to agriculture, nutrition and health. It makes and manufactures high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.

Roundup, Ortho, Phostrogen and Defender are trademarks or services marks owned or licensed by Monsanto Company and its subsidiaries.

For additional information, please contact:
Scarlett Lee Foster
314-694-2883
scarlett.l.foster@monsanto.com

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