KWS divests Chinese corn business to joint venture partner Kenfeng with significant positive effect on earnings

Einbeck (Germany), October 31, 2023 – The Management Board of KWS SE, the general partner of KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, KWS SE, (‘Management Board’) decided today, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to divest its 49% stake in the joint venture, KENFENG – KWS SEED CO., LTD, as well as the Chinese corn portfolio (including licenses) to the joint venture partner, Beidahuang Kenfeng Seed Co., Ltd. ("Kenfeng"), a member of the Beidahuang Group Co., Ltd. group ("Transaction").

The execution of the transaction is subject to the execution of purchase agreements, which are expected to be signed on November 18, 2023, subject to the approval of the relevant Chinese authorities and corporate bodies of the Beidahuang Group Co., Ltd. Group.

The proceeds from the sale amount to a mid-double-digit million Euro amount. Details of the transaction and the exact amount of the purchase price were not disclosed. The Management Board expects the transaction to have a significant positive effect on operating profit and earnings after tax in the current financial year 2023/2024.

The divestment of KWS's corn business in China is taking place primarily in light of changes in the regulatory environment. Upon completion of the transaction, KWS will reduce its business activities in China.

About KWS
KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. More than 5,000 employees* in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.8 billion in fiscal 2022/2023. KWS has been run independently as a family-owned company for more than 165 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of corn, sugarbeet, cereal, vegetable, rapeseed and sunflower seed. KWS uses state-of-the-art plant breeding methods to increase farmers' yields and further improve plants' resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To realize this goal, the company invested more than €300 million in research and development in the past fiscal year.

*excluding seasonal employees
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Notifying person:

Peter Vogt
Head of Investor Relations
Tel. +49 30 816914-490
investor.relations@kws.com