Nidera has acquired 100% of the corn and soybean seed programs of Bayer Seeds in Brazil, which from now on will operate under the name Nidera Sementes Ltda.

The parties agreed to keep the terms of the agreement confidential.

The acquisition reflects Nidera's decision to further develop its seed research and production, in one of the world's fastest growing agricultural regions. Initially, existing proven materials will be adapted to the Brazilian agronomic conditions; the longer term focus will be on yield, quality and technology enhancement through applied domestic research and development. It is furthermore expected that the company's active commercial background as a commodities trader and processor, with strong trading links to Brazil since 1970, will contribute to broaden and solidify the customer base of its new seed operation.

"This transaction provides us with a platform for the creation of new value in the production of high performing seeds, to serve a market that is keen to adopt new technology. We have the knowledge, and our new colleagues are certainly high quality, dedicated agronomists with whom we feel confident we can become an important part of the Brazilian seeds industry", said Jan Brockhausen, a director of Nidera in Brazil.

Nidera is an international trading and agribusiness company established in The Netherlands with subsidiaries in sixteen countries. In Argentina, Nidera is a market leader in research, and production of corn, wheat, sorghum, soybean and sunflower seeds and a major distributor of seeds, crop nutrients and crop protection products throughout the country