Monsanto Company Completes Acquisition of De Ruiter Seeds

St. Louis, Missouri (ots/PRNewswire) - Monsanto Company
(NYSE: MON) announced today that it has completed its proposed
acquisition of De Ruiter Seeds Group B.V., a Dutch-holding company
that owns and operates De Ruiter Seeds, for EUR546 million in cash,
or approximately $850 million at current exchange rates, less net
debt.

Monsanto will start to transition the De Ruiter Seeds business
into its vegetable seeds division alongside its other business units,
Seminis and the International Seed Group, Inc. (ISG). Monsanto's
vegetable seed business will serve its customers through three
dedicated platforms: protected-culture, open field and regional
vegetable seed businesses. The De Ruiter Seeds business will serve
the protected-culture vegetable seed market, Seminis will serve the
open-field vegetable seed market, and ISG will serve customers of
regional seed businesses. Until the transition is complete, business
units will continue to conduct business as usual.

"We look forward to working with the people at De Ruiter Seeds
and identifying new opportunities for us to combine our strengths to
deliver new innovations to growers and customers," said Consuelo
Madere, the Monsanto vegetable seed lead.

Biense Visser, De Ruiter Seeds president and chief executive
officer, said he is also looking forward to the future.

"We are convinced that the future of our company is best with
Monsanto because of their world class technology and the strategic
opportunities for our company," said Visser. "It will allow us to
strengthen our product leadership strategy."

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based
solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity
and food quality. For more information, please visit the company's
web site at http://www.monsanto.com.

About De Ruiter Seeds

De Ruiter Seeds breeds, produces and sells hybrid vegetable seeds
for top vegetable products such as tomato, cucumber, aubergine,
pepper, melon and rootstock. De Ruiter Seeds is one of the top
breeding companies in the world. For more information, please visit
the company's web site at http://www.deruiterseeds.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking
statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated
financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory
approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical
facts. These statements are based on current expectations and
currently available information. However, since these statements are
based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's
actual performance and results may differ materially from those
described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others:
continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals;
the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those
related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance
and the speed with which approvals are received, and public
acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's
research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits;
developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful
operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices;
compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy
of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels;
the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to
obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather
conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture
business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors
detailed in the company's most recent report on Forms 10-Q and 10-K.
Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking
statements, which are current only as of the date of this release.
The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update
any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect
actual results.

Notes to editors: Seminis is a trademark of Monsanto Company and
its wholly owned subsidiaries. De Ruiter Seeds is a trademark of De
Ruiter Seeds.

ots Originaltext: De Ruiter Seeds
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contact Media: Marleen van Balkom, De Ruiter Seeds,
(+31-0-10-5292-674), Media: Mica Veihman, Monsanto,
(+1-314-694-2992). Analysts: Scarlett Lee Foster, Monsanto,,
(+1-314-694-8148)