Monsanto Company Sets Webcasts for Biennial Investor Event

Wednesday October 30, 2013
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) announced it will hold a series of webcasts in conjunction with its biennial investor event scheduled for November 6-7 in St. Louis, Mo. During presentations at the event, company executives will discuss Monsanto’s strategic initiatives, financial targets, product performance, research and development pipeline and other matters related to the company’s business.

• A webcast beginning at 1 p.m. C.T. on Wednesday, November 6 will offer presentations from the following Monsanto executives: Hugh Grant, chairman and chief executive officer; Kerry Preete, executive vice president for global strategy; Brett Begemann, president and chief operating officer; Mike Stern, Ph.D., vice president, Americas row crops; and Mike Frank, vice president, international row crops and vegetables.
• A webcast beginning at 9 a.m. C.T. on Thursday, November 7 will feature presentations from Robb Fraley, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief technology officer; and Pierre Courduroux, senior vice president and chief financial officer.

www.monsanto.com/investors. Following the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Monsanto web site for three weeks.

Slides and a simultaneous audio webcast of the presentations will be accessible by visiting the investor section of Monsanto’s web site at
Monsanto publishes details on upcoming webcasts on its website at www.monsanto.com/investors in both the Presentation and Financial Reports section and the Calendar of Events section. Investors should look to this site as the source of information on future investor conference webcasts. The site includes a calendar of upcoming investor events, details on accessing scheduled webcasts and information from previous investor events.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Monsanto and Evogene Extend and Expand Collaboration for Crop Improvement

Extension of existing collaboration covering yield, environmental stress and fertilizer utilization in corn, soybean, cotton and canola to August 2016

Expansion of the collaboration to include a program for resistance to Stalk Rot disease caused by Fusarium species

Monday October 28, 2013 

Monsanto Company and Evogene Ltd. (TASE: EVGN) announced today the extension and expansion of their research and development collaboration. The collaboration, initially signed in 2008 and later extended in 2011, has focused on identifying key plant genes related to yield, environmental stress and fertilizer utilization in corn, soybean, cotton and canola. The newly signed agreement extends these existing programs through to August 2016, and adds a new five year program for the identification of genes providing resistance to Stalk Rot disease in corn, caused by multiple Fusarium species. Fusarium is a family of fungi that causes significant yield loss across the world’s major crops.
"We are extremely pleased with Monsanto’s decision to again extend our excellent broad collaboration in the areas of yield and abiotic stress tolerance with respect to the four major field crops," said Ofer Haviv, Evogene's President and CEO. "The addition of a new discovery program focused on Fusarium resistance is another indication of Evogene’s growing commitment and activities targeted at biotic stress related conditions, and the broad applicability of our unique technology platform.”                 
“Agricultural innovation will be key to helping meet growing global demand,” added David Fischhoff, Monsanto Technology Strategy Development Lead.  “Through the combination of Evogene’s gene discovery technologies with our company’s trait development expertise, this collaboration is focused on developing new tools that help farmers drive yields even further.”
Terms of the revised collaboration agreement include:

• Evogene will provide Monsanto with candidate genes that are predicted to improve yield, fertilizer utilization and plant resistance to environmental stress. Monsanto will receive exclusive license rights to develop and commercialize the candidate genes as part of Monsanto's trait pipelines for corn, soybean, canola, and cotton.

• Evogene will also provide Monsanto with candidate genes predicted to provide resistance to Stalk Rot disease caused by multiple Fusarium species. Monsanto will receive exclusive license rights to develop and commercialize the candidate genes as part of Monsanto’s trait pipeline for corn.  

• For all collaboration programs, Evogene will utilize its ATHLETE^TM computational technology for gene discovery, and its Gene2Product^TM platform for optimizing trait efficacy and accelerating the product development process.

• Evogene will be entitled to receive both milestone payments and royalty payments for all successful candidate genes emerging from the collaboration that are developed and commercialized by Monsanto. Evogene will also receive additional research and development payments to support the increased activities.

The prior agreement included a put option giving Evogene the right, under defined conditions, to sell one million Evogene shares to Monsanto at $12 per share.  The prior put option has been cancelled in exchange for an increase in all future milestone payments and royalty rates with respect to genes licensed by Evogene to Monsanto. The prior put option has been replaced with a new $12 million put option under which shares will be sold at market value at time of exercise (subject to set minimum and maximum prices).

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About Evogene Ltd.
Evogene is a plant genomics company, utilizing a proprietary integrated technology infrastructure to enhance seed traits underlying crop productivity. Evogene offers a complete solution for crop productivity improvement through biotechnology and advanced breeding using a unique technology infrastructure that is based on deep scientific understandings of plant genomics and proprietary computational capabilities. The Company has strategic collaborations with world-leading agricultural companies to develop improved seed traits in relation to yield and a-biotic stress (such as tolerance to drought), and biotic stress (such as resistance to disease), in key crops as corn, soybean, wheat and rice. In addition, Evogene has earlier stage operations in agriculture chemicals, and seeds focusing on second generation feedstock for biodiesel. The Company's headquarters are located in Rehovot, Israel and the Company is listed for trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: EVGN). For additional information, please visit Evogene’s website at www.evogene.com

About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.
As it applies to Evogene Ltd., this press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as "may",  “expects”, "intends", “anticipates”, “plans”, “believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates” or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which beyond Evogene's control, including, without limitation, those risk factors contained in Evogene’s reports filed with the Israeli Securities Authority. Evogene disclaims any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. 
As it applies to Monsanto Company, this press release contains "forward-looking statements", such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits and the previously-announced SEC investigation; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent Form 10-K Report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

 

Monsanto Honored by Science Magazine as a 2013 Top Employer

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Science Magazine has recognized Monsanto as one of the world’s top employers. In news released today by the publication, Monsanto ranked 14 in Science’s 2013 Top Employer survey. The survey spotlights the 20 best companies in the biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and related industries as well as the characteristics which make them great places to work.
“We are pleased to be recognized by Science as a great employer,” said Robb Fraley, Ph.D., Monsanto chief technology officer. “Our company’s winning culture is based on innovation and the incredible talent of our employees around the world, whose focus is providing farmers the tools they need to feed and clothe a growing global population.”
An independent research firm conducted the survey which polled employees around the world. Respondents from North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific Rim rated companies based on 23 characteristics including work-culture values, easy adaptation to change, and a research-driven environment. Respondents highlighted Monsanto’s clear vision, its place as an innovative leader in the industry and the important, quality research it does as characteristics for making the list. Monsanto is the only Missouri-based company to make the global list.
Third party organizations continue to recognize Monsanto as an employer of choice. Earlier this week Monsanto made the list of the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work®. Monsanto ranked 12 in the world’s largest annual study of workplace excellence, which identifies the top 25 best multinational companies in terms of workplace culture.
For the complete feature on Science’s 2013 Top Employers along with individual company rankings, go to www.sciencecareers.org/TopEmployers2013.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits and the previously-announced SEC investigation; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent Form 10-K Report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

Monsanto Company Names Brett Begemann as President and Chief Operating Officer, and Expands His Oversight of Global Business Operations

ST. LOUIS, Wednesday October 23, 2013 --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) today announced that its Board of Directors is expanding Brett Begemann’s oversight for the company’s global commercial operations and that he will now be named to serve as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. Begemann most recently served as the company’s President and Chief Commercial Officer. In his expanded role, Begemann will lead the global business organization with a continued focus on the company’s growth areas.
Hugh Grant will continue to serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Monsanto Company, where he maintains ongoing responsibility for leading the company’s long-term corporate strategy, as well as setting direction for the Fortune 200 company. Grant will continue to focus on the delivery of strategic plans for the organization, including the company’s long-term vision– a vision that is focused on producing more, conserving more and improving the lives of people throughout the world.
“Brett has repeatedly demonstrated his strength in strategic planning, operational excellence, and delivering strong financial performance throughout his career at Monsanto,” said Grant. “Brett’s leadership will continue to play an important role as we look to accelerate the growth potential of our business and expand our operations into new areas and regions.”
In announcing his expanded role, Monsanto noted that Begemann will continue to be responsible for the company’s worldwide sales and operations, and will also expand his responsibilities to oversee corporate affairs – including the company’s ongoing engagements with farmers, stakeholders and society.
Begemann will continue to lead the global commercial business including overseeing the commercial, manufacturing and supply chain operations in row crops, vegetables and crop protection. This includes overseeing the company’s new areas of growth, including in established markets and new markets, as well as in new areas of innovation such as Integrated Farming Systems and Ag Biologicals.
“I’m honored to assume this expanded role and focus on scaling our operations to reach more farmers around the world with new product offerings,” said Begemann. “Throughout my career at Monsanto, I’ve seen our business transform from an agriculture company focused on biotechnology to one that is built around breeding, biotechnology and agronomic improvements for the farm. I look forward to continuing to expand our product offerings for farmers through the introduction of a next-generation of industry-leading agriculture innovations.”
Begemann joined the former Monsanto Company in 1983. Throughout his career, Begemann has served in a variety of roles across sales, marketing, commercial development as well as senior management positions worldwide. Begemann will continue to report to Monsanto’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hugh Grant, and serve as a member of Monsanto’s executive leadership team.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Monsanto Chesterfield Village Expansion Groundbreaking of Research and Development Center Marks Next Generation for Agriculture and St. Louis

Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon and Hugh Grant, chairman and chief executive officer, Monsanto Co. view 3D agricultural chalk art at Monsanto's Chesterfield Village Research Center expansion groundbreaking. The event commemorated the $400 million expansion which is expected to create 675 new jobs in St. Louis over the next three years. (Photo: Business Wire)

ST. LOUIS, Tuesday October 22, 2013 --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monsanto Company hosted an event today to commemorate the beginning of the Chesterfield Village Research Center expansion, its global hub for research and development (R&D) and agricultural innovation. The $400 million expansion, first announced in April 2013, will create 675 new jobs in St. Louis across all levels over the next three years.
“Our Chesterfield expansion is focused on strengthening our world-class capabilities in the discovery and development of innovations for farmers around the world,” said Hugh Grant, chairman and CEO of Monsanto. “Meeting growing demand will require new ways of thinking and new technologies that today we can only imagine. As we look to the future, and work begins to expand this research facility, I’m reminded how important our mission to work together to help farmers produce more nutritious food in a sustainable way will continue to be.”
The groundbreaking ceremony included Grant, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Phoong Tang, Monsanto global cotton and specialty crop technology lead.
“Today solidifies Missouri as the leading agriculture innovation hub in the country,” said Nixon. “Monsanto’s decision to expand its footprint and create hundreds of high tech, high paying jobs in this region is good for our state, our economy and our citizens.”
The Chesterfield Village expansion is expected to be completed in 2017. The expansion will include a number of new facilities, including a conference center, research building, 36 additional greenhouses, 13 Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) rooms and 250 additional labs. Contracts have been awarded to:

• SmithGroupJJR: Architect for the conference center
• Jacob KlingStubbins: Architect for the research building
• Burns and McDonnell: Architect for greenhouses
• Alberici: Construction manager for expansion project
• Tarlton Corporation: Contractor for parking garage

“Our success reflects the many resources of the St. Louis region that we call home,” said Grant. “We are proud to invest here and look forward to continuing to be part of the region’s growth.”
Monsanto continues to create new employment opportunities in the St. Louis region. Currently, there are 400 St. Louis-based open positions – a significant increase versus a year ago – in a variety of fields including engineering, sales, research, information technology, finance and human resources.
Significant opportunities exist in:

• R&D specifically for new platforms such as BioDirect™ technology and Integrated Farming Systems℠; as well as in biotechnology, breeding and regulatory.

• Information Technology and R&D Technology Pipeline Solutions, the group that develops software that supports R&D pipeline and system integration.

Information on current open positions is available www.monsanto.com/careers.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits and the previously-announced SEC investigation; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent Form 10-K Report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20131022006909/en/

Monsanto Company Named One of the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work®

Company recognized on exclusive annual global ranking of great places to work

Tuesday October 22, 2013

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the second year in a row, Monsanto Company finds itself on the prestigious list of the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work®. This year, Monsanto ranked 12 in the world’s largest annual study of workplace excellence, which identifies the top 25 best multinational companies in terms of workplace culture.
Monsanto ranks two places higher from the 2012 list and is the only St. Louis-based company and the only agriculture company recognized in the award’s third year.
“We are honored for the second time in a row to be recognized as a top multinational workplace,” said Steve Mizell, Monsanto executive vice president of human resources. “I credit our winning to a culture which, because it is team oriented, non-hierarchical and entrepreneurial, gives our 22,000 dedicated employees around the world more opportunities to make professional contributions to the company while also discovering and developing their own talents.”
To be eligible for the Top 25 World’s Best Multinational Workplaces list, qualifying companies must have appeared on at least five national Great Place to Work lists, have at least 5,500 employees worldwide, and have a global workforce where at least 40 percent of their employees work outside the company’s home country.
Monsanto placed on the national Great Place to Work lists in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Central America and India in 2013. The company has almost 22,000 employees around the world and more than half of the company’s employees are based outside of the United States, the headquarters for Monsanto.
“The companies listed on the third-annual World’s Best Multinational Workplaces list are creating workplaces dedicated to fostering trust, pride and camaraderie amongst their employees,” said China Gorman, CEO of Great Place to Work. “Their inclusion on this prestigious list demonstrates their commitment to continually improving the lives of their employees and setting innovative new standards for workplaces of the future.”
Since launching the first best workplaces lists in partnership with FORTUNE magazine in the United States and Exame in Brazil in 1997, Great Place to Work now recognizes leading workplaces in nearly 50 countries. The World’s Best Multinational Workplace list is based on a pool of data from some 2,900 companies that were listed on Great Place to Work country lists. Every year, Great Place to Work analyzes data from surveys taken by more than 5 million employees and workplace culture analytics taken from 7,200 companies, which represent more than 16 million employees.
In 2013, Monsanto also received awards recognizing its employees’ innovation, leadership, and workplace satisfaction by Forbes (World’s Most Innovative Companies), CR Magazine (100 Best Corporate Citizens, ranking 36 overall and fifth in its industry sector), Computerworld (100 Best Places to Work in IT), DiversityInc. (2013 Top 50 Companies for Diversity), National Association for Female Executives (2013 Top 50 Companies for Executive Women) and Chief Executive (2013 40 Best Companies for Leaders). For more information on these recognitions and others, click here.
To learn more about where our employees around the world work, scroll over the map here.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.
About Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work, headquartered in San Francisco, is a global research, consulting and training firm that helps organizations identify, create and sustain great workplaces through the development of high-trust workplace cultures. Great Place to Work serves businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies in almost 50 countries.
About the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces List
Great Place to Work’s annual World’s Best Multinational Workplaces List ranks the top 25 global companies to work for. Qualifying companies must have been selected for at least five national Great Place to Work® lists, have at least 5,000 employees worldwide and count at least 40 percent of their global workforce outside of the company’s home country.