Nidera Buys Bayer's Brazilian Breeder Ops

LONDON - May 17/05 - SNS -- Bayer CropScience sold Nidera its Brazilian corn and soybean seed operations for undisclosed terms.

The acquisition reflects Nidera's decision to further develop its seed research and production, in one of the world's fastest growing agricultural regions. Initially, existing proven materials will be adapted to the Brazilian agronomic conditions; the longer term focus will be on yield, quality and technology enhancement through applied domestic research and development.

It is furthermore expected that the company's active commercial background as a commodities trader and processor, with strong trading links to Brazil since 1970, will contribute to broaden and solidify the customer base of its new seed operation.

Nidera is an international trading and agribusiness company established in The Netherlands with subsidiaries in sixteen countries. In Argentina, Nidera is a market leader in research, and production of corn, wheat, sorghum, soybean and sunflower seeds and a major distributor of seeds, crop nutrients and crop protection products throughout the country.