S&W Seed Enters Into Distribution Agreement with Maxim in Pakistan

FIVE POINTS, Calif., Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW), one of the world's leading alfalfa seed companies, has entered into a distribution agreement with Maxim International (Private) Limited, one of the largest livestock input companies in Pakistan. Maxim, as S&W's exclusive distributor in Pakistan, will stock and supply S&W's elite alfalfa seed brands in Pakistan.

Pakistan represents a significant new opportunity for sales of S&W's high performing alfalfa brands. Historically, the alfalfa seed market in Pakistan has been met in large part by uncertified varieties of seeds that grow lower quality alfalfa forage in comparison to those offered by S&W. Rapid growth in the country's dairy and beef industries have increased demand for alfalfa hay, both for use in Pakistan and for export to the Middle East and North Africa. According to the 2012 IFCN Dairy Report, Pakistan is the world's third largest milk producer, behind only the United States and India. In addition, meat exports from Pakistan have grown from $30 million in 2010 to $250 million in 2013.  S&W believes this increased demand for larger and larger volumes of alfalfa hay, coupled with declining acreage of arable land per capita, creates an opportunity for S&W's high yielding brands to displace uncertified seed and thereby enable farmers in the region to increase production and profits.

Maxim is one of the largest livestock input companies in the country, with nearly 130 employees, selling directly to more than 2,000 farms, and over 1,600 distribution network partners. Since its inception,  Maxim has added a number of products and services to its portfolio and has become a complete input provider to both large and small farms throughout Pakistan. Its client list includes most of the large corporate farms as well as thousands of small farms served through an extensive franchisee network spread throughout the country.

Mark Grewal, chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company commented, "We are very pleased to create this distribution agreement with Maxim International (Private) Limited to exclusively market and sell our elite S&W group alfalfa seed brands to the farmers of Pakistan. We are in a strong position to help local farmers maximize their alfalfa yield and quality. Alfalfa is a key step in the path to increasing the availability of local dairy products to their population. Our goal is to provide the dairy and cattle industries in Pakistan with the finest alfalfa brands, thereby assisting them in meeting the need for dairy and meat products throughout their country."

As part of the agreement, initial purchase quantities of various S&W brands, including its leading salt tolerant capabilities, will be made.  Over the following three years, Maxim is committed to purchasing escalating minimum quantities of various alfalfa seed brands, with the option to purchase larger quantities as demand dictates.

For more information, please visit (https://www.facebook.com/maximfeeds).

About S&W Seed Company

Founded as a partnership in 1980, S&W Seed Company is now a global agricultural corporation, headquartered in the Central Valley of California. The company is the largest producer of non-dormant, alfalfa seed brands in the world, with production operations in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valley's of California, as well as in South Australia. The company has worldwide sales and distribution through both a direct sales force as well as dealer-distributors. The company's proprietary brands are designed to meet the shifting needs of farmers that require high performance in poor and highly saline soil conditions and have been verified over decades of university-sponsored trials. Additionally, the company is utilizing its research and breeding expertise to develop and produce U.S.-based stevia leaf. Stevia is an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener for the food and beverage industry. For more information, please visit www.swseedco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and other risks identified in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014, and in other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE S&W Seed Company