SEC Company Response from SYNGENTA AG (CIK 0001123661) — Jul 22, 2005
SYNGENTA AG (CIK 0001123661)
Date: July 22, 2005 · CIK: 0001123661 · Accession: 0000950103-05-001752
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: June 30, 2005
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CORRESP
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Syngenta AG
P.O. Box
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
www.syngenta.com
Correspondence address
Schwarzwaldallee 215
4002 Basel
VIA EDGAR SUBMISSION AND COURIER
Mr. Frank Green
United States Securities and Exchange
Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549-0405
Basel, July 22, 2005
Syngenta AG
Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004
File No. 1-15152
Dear Mr. Green:
This
letter is in response to comments of the Staff (the “Staff”)
of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
contained in the letter from the Staff dated June 30, 2005 (the “Comment
Letter”)
regarding the above-referenced Annual Report on Form 20-F of Syngenta AG (“Syngenta” or
the “Company”) filed March 16, 2005 (the “Annual Report”).
Set forth
below is the Company’s response to the Staff’s comment, as set forth
in the Comment Letter.
* * *
Syngenta AG
Annual Report Form 20-F
Ended Dec 31, 2004
File No. 1-15152
Date: July 22, 2005
Page 2/3
General
We note the disclosure at the end
of Note 32 “Syngenta’s operations, associates and joint-ventures as at December 31, 2004” on page F-65 that Syngenta is represented by operations, associates or joint
ventures in Iran and Cuba. In view of the fact that Iran and Cuba have been identified by the U.S. State Department as state sponsors of terrorism, and are subject to economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of
Foreign Assets Control, please describe to us your operations in both countries; advise us of the materiality to the Company of its operations in Iran and Cuba; and give us your view as to whether those operations constitute a material investment
risk for your security holders. In preparing your response, please consider that evaluations of materiality should not be based solely on quantitative factors, but should include consideration of all factors, including the potential impact of
corporate activities upon a company’s reputation and share value, that a
reasonable investor would deem important in making an investment decision. We
may have further comment.
Syngenta maintains a representative office
in each of Iran and Cuba, which offices primarily engage in the promotion of
Syngenta’s business interests, including the coordination of logistics and product trials. Fewer
than 20 persons are employed, in the aggregate, by Syngenta in Iran and Cuba. De minimis fixed assets, having a net book value of less than $0.1 million each, and consisting primarily of office equipment and automobiles (as well as the office
manager’s residence, in the case of Iran), are located in Iran and Cuba.
For the reasons set forth below, based on an assessment of both quantitative and qualitative factors, Syngenta believes that our operations in Iran and Cuba, as disclosed on page F-65 of the Annual Report, are not material to
Syngenta and do not constitute a material investment risk to our securityholders.
During the fiscal year ended December 31,
2004, Syngenta’s sales in Iran and Cuba were approximately $35 million and $4 million, respectively, which in the aggregate is equivalent to approximately 0.54% of
Syngenta’s total sales of $7,269 million. Therefore, Syngenta believes
that our operations in Iran and Cuba are quantitatively immaterial to our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
During the fiscal year ended December 31,
2004, sales of products in Iran and Cuba consisted primarily of herbicides,
fungicides, insecticides, seed treatments, rodenticides and seeds. As disclosed
on pages 13 to 38 of the Annual Report, Syngenta’s products are designed for use in the agricultural industry, with some products having additional application in public health, turf management and ornamental markets. It is Syngenta’s
belief that our operations in Iran and Cuba are in full compliance with applicable
laws and regulations.
Based on the foregoing, Syngenta believes
that our operations, both individually and in the aggregate, in Iran and Cuba
are immaterial and have not materially affected our reputation or share value.
Accordingly, Syngenta believes that neither the quantitative size nor the qualitative
nature of these operations constitutes a material investment risk to Syngenta’s security holders. However, by disclosing on page F-65 of the Annual Report the existence of our
business operations in Iran and Cuba, Syngenta has made investors aware of the existence of these minor operations. Syngenta does not believe that additional disclosure in the Annual Report relating to Syngenta’s
operations in Iran and Cuba would be deemed important by a reasonable investor
in making an investment decision.
Syngenta AG
Annual Report Form 20-F
Ended Dec 31, 2004
File No. 1-15152
Date: July 22, 2005
Page 3/3
The Company
acknowledges that it is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure
in the Annual Report. In addition, the Company acknowledges that the Staff’s comments or
changes to the Company’s disclosure in response to the Staff’s comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Annual Report and that the Company may not assert the Staff’s
comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person
under the federal securities laws of the United States.
Please
do not hesitate to call the undersigned (+41-61-323-7390; +41-61-323-3950)
or James Halliwell, Head of Reporting (+41-61-323-7074), with any questions
you may have with respect to the foregoing. Alternatively, during non-Swiss
business hours, please feel free to contact Michael Kaplan (212-450-4111) or
Michael Kim (212-450-4185) of Davis Polk & Wardwell, Syngenta’s outside
counsel, with respect to this letter.
Sincerely,
/s/ Christoph Mäder
/s/ Domenico Scala
Christoph Mäder
Domenico Scala
Group General Counsel
Chief Financial Officer
CC:
-
James Halliwell, Syngenta AG
-
Michael Kaplan, Davis Polk & Wardwell
-
Michael Kim, Davis Polk & Wardwell