UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT
OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month
of April, 2017
______________________
Commission
File Number: 001-15152
SYNGENTA AG
(Translation of registrant’s name into
English)
Schwarzwaldallee 215
4058 Basel
Switzerland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
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Disclosure:
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“First
quarter 2017: Full year targets maintained”
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Herewith we furnish a press release
related to Syngenta AG. The full text of the press release is the following:
# # #
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Syngenta International AG
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Media contacts:
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Analyst/Investor contacts:
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Media Office
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Leandro Conti
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Jennifer Gough
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CH-4002 Basel
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Switzerland
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+41 61 323 2323
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Switzerland
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+41 61 323 5059
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Switzerland
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USA
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+1 202 737 6521
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Tel:
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+41 61 323 2323
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Fax:
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+41 61 323 2424
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Paul Minehart
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USA
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+1 202 737 8913
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www.syngenta.com
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First
quarter 2017: Full year targets maintained
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·
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Sales
1 percent lower: currency effect neutral
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·
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Further
momentum in Asia Pacific
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·
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Late
start to season in Europe
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·
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Sales
of new products more than doubled
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Group sales
of $3.7 billion were 1 percent lower compared with the first quarter of 2016. Volumes were stable and pricing slightly lower.
The more favourable currency trend which began in the second half of 2016 continued, with the Russian Ruble and the Brazilian
Real strengthening against the dollar.
First
quarter regional sales at CER
1
Sales in
Europe, Africa and the Middle East
were unchanged despite a late start to the season in Northern and Central Europe, due
to cold weather. This was offset by an excellent performance in South East Europe and ongoing growth in the CIS, as well as by
solid growth in France due to the highly successful launch of ELATUS™ PLUS at the end of 2016.
In
North
America
, a decline in Seeds sales was largely due to a timing difference in the receipt of trait royalties. Crop Protection
sales showed robust growth driven by the ongoing success of TRIVAPRO™, based on SOLATENOL™.
In
Latin
America
, sales were 3 percent lower. Dry weather in the second half of 2016, affecting the south of Brazil and Paraguay, reduced
demand for fungicides and herbicides.
In
Asia
Pacific
sales were up 4 percent. The main driver was ASEAN, with a continuing good corn seed performance. China grew based
on the adoption of fungicides, notably AMISTAR
®
.
First
quarter product line sales at CER
1
Sales of
Selective herbicides
were primarily impacted by the late start to the season in Europe. In the USA, ACURON™ and DUAL
GOLD
®
continued to expand despite competitive market conditions. Sales of
Non-selective herbicides
were
also lower due to softness in glyphosate. Growth in
Fungicides
was driven by SOLATENOL™ based products in France,
Germany and USA. This more than offset the impact of market weakness in Latin America.
Insecticides
sales were down due
to lower sales in Northern Europe.
Seedcare
sales were slightly higher, with good performances by CRUISER
®
and FORTENZA
®
in Latin America.
____________________
1
At
constant exchange rates
Syngenta – April 24, 2017 / Page 1 of 5
Corn
seed sales grew strongly in both Latin America and Asia Pacific. In North America corn sales were down due to trait royalty timing.
Soybean sales were also slightly lower.
Diverse field crops
registered double digit growth driven primarily by sunflowers.
Vegetables
recorded growth in Europe and Latin America.
Erik Fyrwald,
Chief Executive Officer, said:
“While
conditions for growers at the start of 2017 remain difficult, our business is steady and currencies are no longer a drag on our
performance. For the full year we maintain our targets of low single digit growth in sales, an improvement in the EBITDA margin
and strong free cash flow generation.
In recent
weeks the ChemChina transaction has made very significant progress, with the receipt of regulatory approvals including the European
Union and the USA. We look forward to closing the transaction in May 2017.”
ChemChina
transaction update
On April
13, ChemChina announced that the tender offers to purchase all publicly held shares and ADSs will end on May 4, 2017. The Board
of Directors of Syngenta has unanimously recommended the offer to shareholders.
About Syngenta
Syngenta
is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of
available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working
to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing
rural communities. To learn more visit
www.syngenta.com
and
www.goodgrowthplan.com
.
Follow us on Twitter
®
at
www.twitter.com/Syngenta
.
Additional information and where to find
it
This press release is for informational
purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell company securities. The solicitation
and offer to buy company securities is only made pursuant to the Swiss offer prospectus and the offer to purchase and other documents
relating to the U.S. offer that have been filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). At the time
the US Public Tender Offer was commenced, ChemChina and a designated direct or indirect subsidiary filed a tender offer statement
on Schedule TO with the SEC and thereafter, the company filed a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14d-9 with respect
to the offer. Investors and security holders are urged to read these materials carefully since they contain important information,
including the terms and conditions of the offer. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these materials and
other documents filed by ChemChina and the company with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov
.
Investors and security holders may also obtain free copies of the solicitation/recommendation statement and other documents filed
with the SEC by the company at
www.syngenta.com
.
Syngenta – April 24, 2017 / Page 2 of
5
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking
statements
Some of the statements contained in this
press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected consummation of the acquisition, which
involves a number of risks and uncertainties, including the satisfaction of closing conditions for the acquisition, such as regulatory
approval for the transaction and the tender of at least 67% of the outstanding shares of the company, the possibility that the
transaction will not be completed and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the company’s public filings with the SEC,
including the “risk factors” section of the company’s form 20-F filed on February 16, 2017 as well as the tender
offer documents filed by the offeror and the solicitation/recommendation statement filed by the company. These statements are based
on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any forward-looking statements.
These statements are generally identified by words or phrases such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”,
“intend”, “plan”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “estimate”,
“predict”, “potential”, “continue” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions.
If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results and the timing of events
may differ materially from the results and/or timing discussed in the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue
reliance on these statements. The offeror, ChemChina and the company disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking
statements as a result of developments occurring after the period covered by this press release or otherwise.
Syngenta – April 24, 2017 / Page 3 of 5
Unaudited
first quarter sales
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For
the quarter ended March 31,
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($m)
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2017
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2016
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Actual
%
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CER
1
%
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Group sales
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Europe, Africa, Middle East
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1,740
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1,747
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-
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-
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North America
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946
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986
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- 4
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- 5
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Latin America
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393
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399
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- 1
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- 3
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Asia Pacific
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448
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430
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+
4
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+
4
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Total regional sales
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3,527
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3,562
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- 1
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- 1
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Controls
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117
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112
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+ 5
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+ 2
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Flowers
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66
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68
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-
2
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-
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Group
sales
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3,710
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3,742
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-
1
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-
1
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Crop Protection by region
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Europe, Africa, Middle East
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1,218
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1,274
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- 4
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- 3
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North America
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624
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596
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+ 5
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+ 4
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Latin America
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307
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344
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- 11
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- 11
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Asia Pacific
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405
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390
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+
4
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+
3
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Total
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2,554
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2,604
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-
2
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-
2
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Seeds by region
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Europe, Africa, Middle East
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526
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480
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+ 10
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+ 7
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North America
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332
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398
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- 17
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- 17
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Latin America
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94
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59
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+ 60
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+ 47
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Asia Pacific
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44
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42
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+
5
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+
4
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Total
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996
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979
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+
2
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-
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Sales by business
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Crop Protection
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2,554
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2,604
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- 2
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- 2
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Seeds
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996
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979
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+ 2
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-
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Elimination
of Crop Protection sales to Seeds
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-23
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-21
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n/a
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n/a
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Total regional sales
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3,527
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3,562
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- 1
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- 1
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Controls
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117
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112
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+ 5
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+ 2
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Flowers
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66
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68
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- 2
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-
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Group
sales
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3,710
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3,742
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-
1
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-
1
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1
Growth at constant exchange rates
Syngenta – April 24, 2017 / Page 4 of 5
Unaudited
first quarter product line sales
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For
the quarter ended March 31,
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($m)
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2017
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2016
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Actual
%
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CER
1
%
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Selective herbicides
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829
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880
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-
6
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-
6
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Non-selective herbicides
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141
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150
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-
6
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-
11
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Fungicides
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922
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908
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+
2
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+
2
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Insecticides
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378
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387
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-
2
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-
4
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Seedcare
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254
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244
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+
4
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+
2
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Other
crop protection
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30
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35
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-
15
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+
49
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Total
Crop Protection
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2,554
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2,604
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-
2
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-
2
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Corn and soybean
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487
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520
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-
7
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-
8
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Diverse field crops
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364
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317
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+
15
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+
10
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Vegetables
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145
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142
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+
2
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+
5
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Total
Seeds
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996
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979
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+
2
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-
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Elimination
of Crop Protection sales to Seeds
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-23
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-21
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n/a
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n/a
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Controls
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117
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112
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+
5
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+
2
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Flowers
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66
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68
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-
2
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-
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Group
sales
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3,710
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3,742
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-
1
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-
1
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1
Growth at constant exchange rates
Syngenta – April 24, 2017 / Page 5 of 5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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SYNGENTA AG
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Date:
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April 24, 2017
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By:
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/s/
Christoph Mäder
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Name:
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Christoph
Mäder
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Title:
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Company Secretary
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By:
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/s/
Brigitte Benz
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Name:
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Brigitte
Benz
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Title:
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Head Shareholder Services & Group Administration
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