Bayer CropScience And Monsanto Enter Into Cross-Licensing Agreements For Next-Generation And Enabling Technologies

MONHEIM, Germany and ST. LOUIS, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer CropScience and Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) have entered into a series of licensing agreements for next-generation and enabling technologies in the field of plant biotechnology that will provide new options and choices for farmers.

Monsanto will provide Bayer CropScience with a royalty-bearing license to Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^® and Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ technology in soybeans in the United States and Canada. Bayer CropScience also will receive a royalty-bearing license to Intacta RR2 PRO™ in soybeans in Brazil with an option to a royalty-bearing license in other Latin-American countries in the future. Bayer CropScience has also been granted stacking-rights under certain conditions.

Under the agreements, Bayer CropScience will grant Monsanto licenses to evaluate enabling technologies for corn rootworm control and herbicide tolerance as options for Monsanto's future pipeline development work.

"We are excited that with the combined technologies from both companies, we will be able to offer farmers additional pest control options and an all-inclusive weed resistance package in soybeans. These will fit nicely with our own technology such as LibertyLink™," said Rudiger Scheitza, member of the board of management of Bayer CropScience and head of strategy and business management. "We're also pleased to give Monsanto access to evaluate enabling next-generation weed control and insect technologies for potential support of future pipeline developments."

"We're pleased we have been able to reach an agreement with Bayer CropScience, which will offer increased benefits for farmers and foster continued choice and innovation in our industry," said Brett Begemann, Monsanto president and chief commercial officer. "This agreement further supports the value of our Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^® platform as we prepare to enter the next phase of innovation in soybeans with the addition of Intacta RR2 PRO™ and Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™."

Additional terms and financial details of the agreements were not disclosed.

Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^® is Monsanto's second-generation trait technology platform for soybeans. Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans contains the Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^® trait technology stacked with a trait that provides tolerance to dicamba. Intacta RR2 PRO™ soybeans are the first‐ever insect-protected trait in soybeans, providing control of lepidopteran pests.

About Bayer CropScience

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. This year the company looks back on 150 years of working to fulfill its mission "Bayer: Science For A Better Life". Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,383 million (2012) and is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 20,800 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com.  Follow our business on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows^® at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Bayer Forward-Looking Statements:

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Monsanto Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits and the previously-announced SEC investigation; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent Form 10-K Report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ and Intacta RR2 PRO™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Monsanto.

SOURCE Monsanto Company