Nov 3, 2008

Syngenta Acquires Yoder’s Chrysanthemum and Aster Product LinesSource: Syngenta, Yoder Brothers, wire reports

Two weeks after acquiring Goldsmith Seeds, Syngenta announced that it will purchase the Chrysanthemum and Aster product lines from Yoder Brothers. With this transaction, Syngenta acquires the Yoder chrystanthemum and aster genetics and breeding programs, the Yoder brand name and all production assets necessary to deliver current and new varieties to the market.

The integration will involve approximately 150 employees joining Syngenta. The remaining Yoder entities will continue to be owned and operated by Yoder Brothers, and will do business under the Yoder name until July 2009, at which time they will transition to a new name that better reflects their remaining businesses.

According to Syngenta, this development means that Syngenta Flowers will now be able to offer the market an even more complete product offering.

“These offers complement Syngenta Flowers’ robust line of annual and perennial seeds and cuttings. The pot mums are a great addition to our poinsettias, cyclamen, gerbera daisy and other pot crops. We are excited about how this acquisition reinforces our promise of innovation, quality and reliability,” said Syngenta Flowers President Gary Falkenstein.

Yoder will continue to sell and service Yoder-brand mums and asters from its customer service group and from Yoder Sales in the United States and Canada Yoder will also continue to produce and sell through its established network of distributors and Yoder Sales.

The company is excited about the change, said Bill Rasbach, president of Yoder Brothers Inc.

“It allows the “new” Yoder to take a new direction in the market place,” he said. “We look forward to being known as something other than the mum company.

The transaction is expected to close in quarter four of 2008, pending regulatory approvals.

For more information about Syngenta, visit www.syngenta.com. To learn more about Yoder Brothers Inc., check out www.yoder.com.