Basel, Switzerland
May 16, 2001
Syngenta Crop
Protection, Inc., (US) (NYSE: SYT) filed a lawsuit on 15 May against
Bayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany, seeking a declaratory judgment that Bayer US Patent
No.6,232,309 is invalid. This patent purports to cover the chemical compound thiamethoxam, an agricultural insecticide
invented by Syngenta scientists and patented by Syngenta in the US.
It is Syngenta policy to respect valid intellectual property rights of other companies. However, Syngenta is confident that its
actions in manufacturing and selling thiamethoxam in the US do not infringe any valid and enforceable patents owned or
controlled by Bayer. Syngenta will vigorously defend its rights to continue marketing its products based on the patented
compound thiamethoxam.
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness. The company ranks first in crop protection, and third in the high-value commercial
seeds market. Pro forma sales in 2000 were approximately US $6.9 billion. Syngenta employs more than 20,000 people in
over 50 countries. The company is committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative Research and Technology. Formed
in November 2000 by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemicals, Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock
exchange, and in London, New York and Stockholm. Further information is available at
www.syngenta.com.
Company news release
N3526 |