Basel, Switzerland
11 January 2002

Syngenta AG and Bayer AG today announced that they had reached an agreement on their intellectual property disputes in neonicotinoid chemistry which are the subject of various proceedings in the USA, Europe and Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, Syngenta will pay Bayer $ 120
million in return for full access to crop protection and related markets worldwide.

“Thiamethoxam's worldwide potential can now be fully realized particularly in the major agricultural markets. We are pleased to have resolved these complex issues and to have reached this agreement with Bayer”, said John Atkin, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Crop Protection. Syngenta's thiamethoxam brands include ACTARA®, CRUISER®, HELIX®, PLATINUM® and CENTRIC®.

“Reaching an agreement on this lengthy patent dispute was not easy but we are convinced that this is in the best interest of our customers”, said Jochen Wulff, President and CEO of Bayer's Crop Protection division. Bayer will continue to serve all markets with its imidacloprid based insecticides
CONFIDOR®, ADMIRE® and GAUCHO® as well as with the recently launched new-generation chloronicotinyl insecticide CALYPSO®.

Syngenta is a world leading agribusiness. The company ranks first in crop protection, and third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Pro forma sales in 2000 were approximately US $6.9 billion. Syngenta employs more than 20,000 people in over 50 countries. The company is committed to
sustainable agriculture through innovative Research and Technology. Formed in November 2000 by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemicals, Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in London (SYA), New York (SYT) and Stockholm (SYN).