Delta and Pine Land Company announced today that it has been named a defendant in a purported class action antitrust lawsuit filed in Federal Court in Birmingham, Alabama. The complaint, which is principally directed at Monsanto Company's market position and practices in connection with its licensing of cottonseed technology and sales of its Roundup herbicides, accuses Monsanto of various violations of the antitrust laws, including tie-ins and attempts to monopolize, involving those products. The complaint also names Delta and Pine Land and D&M Partners, which is 90% owned by Delta and Pine Land, as defendants, accusing them of being parties to Monsanto's anti-competitive conduct. The lawsuit seeks unspecified treble damages as well as injunctive relief on behalf of certain purported classes of farmers and distributors.

Delta and Pine Land and D&M Partners deny all allegations directed at them and intend to vigorously defend the litigation.

Delta and Pine Land is separately engaged in litigation against Monsanto for breach of contract seeking $1 billion in compensatory damages and $1 billion in punitive damages in connection with Monsanto's breach of the merger agreement between them.

Delta and Pine Land Company is a commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed. Headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, with offices and facilities in seven states and several foreign countries, Delta and Pine Land Company also breeds, produces and markets soybean planting seed. 

Company news release
N2690