Syngenta’s sales slightly slip in 2009

Date:02-08-2010

*Sales $11 billion, up 1 percent at constant exchange rates

*EBITDA margin maintained at 21.6 percent: Seeds margin 9.5 percent

*Earnings per share(3) $15.76, 3 percent lower

*Earnings per share $14.62 after restructuring and impairment, unchanged

*Free cash flow $580 million

*2010 cash return around $750 million: maintained dividend, share repurchase

	Reported Financial Highlights			Excluding Restructuring, Impairment
	2009 $m	2008 $m	Actual %	2009 $m	2008 $m	Actual%	CER(1) %
Sales	10,992	11,624	- 5	10,992	11,624	- 5	+1
Crop Protection	8,491	9,231	- 8	8,491	9,231	- 8	- 2
Seeds	2,564	2,442	+5	2,564	2,442	+5	+13
Net Income Earnings per share	1,371	1,385	- 1	1,478	1,540	- 4	-
	$14.62	$14.63	-	$15.76	$16.26	- 3	-

Mike Mack, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"In 2009 Syngenta achieved earnings close to the record level of 2008 in the face of considerable challenges including negative currency movements and higher raw material costs. This achievement reflects our discipline in pricing, made possible by the proven value of our products to growers, and strong growth in Seeds accompanied by a significant improvement in profitability. It also reflects our ability to restrain costs in a difficult environment and to continue generating substantial free cash flow. Our active management of risk in Latin America and Eastern Europe also contributed to the ongoing strength of our balance sheet, and placed us in a good position to benefit from the upturn in these regions which began towards year end. In the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, growth continued throughout the year as growers continued to invest in yield improvement.

"Strong growth in sales of new Crop Protection products and accelerating returns in Seeds attest to the success of Syngenta’s sustained investment in R&D. We also continued to make targeted acquisitions. Around the world we are focusing on the longer term expansion of our business, for which the fundamental drivers of population growth and evolving diets remain unchanged.”

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