Investor Relations
KWS is a medium-sized plant breeding company with a rich tradition. Our strategic focus is on transparent, value-oriented and responsible business management. We want to strengthen your trust in us through open, consistent and honest communication.
Current Investor News
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The Supervisory Board and the Executive Board of KWS SAAT SE have decided to prepare a change in the company’s legal form to an SE & Co. KGaA (partnership limited by shares) and a stock split at a ratio of 1:5. KWS has been a company with a tradition of family ownership since it was founded more than 160 years ago. The majority of the shares in KWS SAAT SE (currently 54.5 percent) is held by members of the families Carl-Ernst Büchting and Arend Oetker. The conversion will mean that KWS SAAT SE becomes KWS SAAT SE & Co KGaA. That will not be accompanied by a change in the company’s legal personality. The shareholders of KWS SAAT SE will automatically become limited partners of KWS SAAT SE & Co KGaA. KWS SE will become the general partner of the KGaA. The family shareholders Büchting and Oetker will have the majority of voting rights in it. The task of KWS SE is the management and thus long-term and strategic control of KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA. The change of legal form will not result in liquidation of the existing company or formation of a new legal entity. The company’s legal and economic identity will be retained. Everything will largely remain the same for employees: All employment contracts and all agreements concluded with the employee representative bodies will remain in effect without modification. The overall goal of the conversion is to ensure that KWS continues to be run with the same values, even in the event of a capital increase where new shares are issued. “By taking this step, we are positioning ourselves ideally for our further growth,” said KWS’ Chief Executive Officer Hagen Duenbostel in Einbeck. “We’ll have better opportunities to raise funds on the capital market – such as for acquisitions to sensibly complement KWS’ portfolio. At the same time, control of the company will remain in the tried-and-proven hands of our core shareholders,” added Duenbostel. “We family shareholders think in terms of generations, not quarters. Our ethos is founded on long-term action and an independent market position and ensures that the company is strongly positioned, even in times of increasing changes in the industry,” stated Andreas J. Büchting, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of KWS SAAT SE. “With the conversion, we will make sure that KWS remains true to the identity it has evolved over the years and shapes the future with determination and confidence on the basis of a success story extending over many generations,” stated Marie T. Schnell, Deputy Chairwoman of KWS SAAT SE’s Supervisory Board and representative of the Arend Oetker family. In order to increase the share’s liquidity, a stock split at a ratio of 1:5 is also being prepared, coupled with a capital increase using company funds of KWS SAAT SE. The stock split will not result in any changes to the stakes held. The shareholders do not need to make any additional cash payments. If the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board give their final approval to the proposed resolutions and the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on December 14 endorses them, the change in legal form will likely be completed in the spring of 2019 when it is entered in the commercial register. About KWS 1 KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. In fiscal 2016/2017, 4,950 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of €1,080 million and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €132 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield and resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested €190 million last fiscal year in research and development, 17 percent of its net sales. For more information: www.kws.de. Follow us on Twitter® at https://twitter.com/KWS_Group. 1 All figures excluding the shares of the equity-accounted companies AGRELIANT GENETICS LLC., AGRELIANT GENETICS INC. and KENFENG – KWS SEEDS CO., LTD. Contact: Wolf-Gebhard von der Wense Head of Investor Relations Phone: +49-5561-311-968 Mobile: +49-151-18855673 wolf-gebhard.vonderwense@kws.com KWS SAAT SE www.kws.de
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Following publication on May 25 of the final commitments given by Bayer to the EU Commission, KWS SAAT SE yesterday (Monday, May 28, 2018) issued a non-binding offer to Bayer AG for its global vegetable seed business, which operates primarily under the name Nunhems. KWS is thus renewing a non-binding bid it made in January 2018 and is offering Bayer and its shareholders attractive terms and conditions for the sale of the vegetable seed business. In order to complete the transaction with Monsanto, Bayer AG had assured the antitrust authorities that it would sell crop science businesses, including its vegetable seed business. If Nunhems were acquired by KWS, the agricultural sector, farmers and consumers alike would benefit from the sale to an independent seed company without an agrochemicals division. One of KWS’ prime goals is to enhance sustainable agriculture by developing resource-saving, high-yielding varieties – including in vegetable breeding to a greater extent in the future. Both KWS and Nunhems have driven numerous innovations in the past such as to provide farmers and consumers with a diverse range of high-quality products. As one of the leading international plant breeding companies, and backed by more than 160 years of experience, KWS operates successfully as an independent seed specialist in many markets. KWS’ particular focus is on agricultural crops. With its strong product performance, particular customer proximity and strategic industry partnerships, KWS is excellently positioned. If and when the chances present themselves, KWS aims to continue leveraging growth opportunities through company acquisitions as it moves forward. As a Dutch vegetable seed company with a long tradition, Nunhems has also been a respected international leader for many years. With its products, expertise and strong customer centricity, Nunhems is a strategically sensible complement to KWS’ existing portfolio and would dovetail seamlessly into KWS’ corporate culture and its long-term orientation. About KWS 1 KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. In fiscal 2016/2017, 4,950 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of €1,080 million and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €132 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield and resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested €190 million last fiscal year in research and development, 17 percent of its net sales. For more information: www.kws.de. Follow us on Twitter® at https://twitter.com/KWS_Group. 1 All figures excluding the shares of the equity-accounted companies AGRELIANT GENETICS LLC., AGRELIANT GENETICS INC. and KENFENG – KWS SEEDS CO., LTD. Contact: Wolf-Gebhard von der Wense Head of Investor Relations Phone: +49-5561-311-968 Mobile: +49-151-18855673 wolf-gebhard.vonderwense@kws.com KWS SAAT SE www.kws.de
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Net sales slightly lower due to currency influences – Rise in costs, especially due to realignment of the company’s organization – EBIT stable – Earnings expectations for the year as a whole unchanged
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Net sales lower in the first half of the year – Increase in expenditure aimed at securing future growth – Net sales and EBIT to be in the anticipated range at the end of the fiscal year
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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KWS buys back own shares for the annual employee stock program
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Shareholders adopt a dividend of €3.20 a share – New Supervisory Board elections – Guidance unchanged
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Net sales increased – EBIT impacted by operating costs as customary in the first quarter – Good earnings still anticipated as the guidance remains unchanged
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Net sales and EBIT grown – Business expansion in South America and Europe – Continued good earnings anticipated – Dividend to rise to €3.20
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Net sales and EBIT increased in the first nine month – Business grown in South America and Europe – Guidance for the current fiscal year raised
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Operational growth continues – Revenue in Brazil doubled – Net income for the period influenced positively by special effects – Anticipated EBIT margin for the current fiscal year raised slightly
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Shareholders adopt a dividend of €3.00 a share – New independent auditor appointed – Further profit and loss transfer agreements adopted – Change on the Supervisory Board – Guidance confirmed
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KWS buys back own shares for the annual employee stock program
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
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Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them