the future since 1856 seeding the future since 1856 seeding the future since 1856 varieties & products products corn more products sugarbeet more products cereals more products oilseed rape more products sunflower more products sorghum more products potato more news successful business performance for kws full year targets confirmed after end of the third quarter 2015 2016 revenues increased after nine months earnings in line with expectations full year targets expected to be met kws to fully focus on hybrid potato breeding and divest its conventional seed potato business 12.4.2016 kws is selling its conventional seed potato business to stet holland b.v. an agreement to that effect was signed on april 11 2016 . the transaction is expected to be completed by mid 2016 . kws group confirms net sales and ebit targets revenue increased in the first half of the year first half income ebit impacted by planned increase in spending on research and distribution expected ebit margin of at least 10 % at the end of the fiscal year confirmed annual shareholders meeting of kws saat se proposed dividend ratified einbeck december 17 2015 shareholders adopt a dividend of 3.00 a share approval of the profit and loss transfer agreement with kws lochow gmbh executive board confirms guidance of a double digit ebit return for the kws group at the end of the fiscal year despite a difficult economic environment all items on the agenda of today s annual shareholders meeting of kws saat se isin de0007074007 were adopted by a large majority . with a slight reduction in the return on net income for the year to 8.5 % previous year 8.7 % the dividend remains the same as in the previous year at 3.00 . the shareholders also approved the profit and loss transfer agreement with kws lochow gmbh . the group still aims to generate a double digit ebit return and to grow its net sales as well although the situation in agricultural markets is expected to remain difficult . inspiring a passion for science in the next generation december 17th 2015 with the explore agriculture science program the kws gateway research center grc started a new and exciting initiative to promote students interest in science and agriculture . with the opening of the grc in early 2015 derek bartlem and his team sought an opportunity to make a difference in the local community . to meet that goal the grc team built a three session program where high school students could actively participate in panels exercises and discussions while getting to know the industry and some kws professionals . the program aims to help students from diverse backgrounds in the st. louis community learn more about and be inspired by science and agriculture . the kws grc team took on a mentoring role and explored the st. louis bioscience ecosystem with the students through hands on exploratory activities . in the final session on november 12 students worked on the kws agriculture sciences innovation challenge in which they applied their new skills to solve problems that are regularly encountered by plant science researchers . all of the grc scientists contributed to the challenge by creating scenarios that described problems they had actually experienced in their own careers ; these scenarios were compiled into a game by lorelei davis . to play the game the students needed to work with each other and consult with the grc scientists in problem solving and team building activities . the program allowed kws to engage with the community in a way that was exciting and meaningful for kws professionals both in st. louis and via teleconference in einbeck . not only did this program meet the needs of 16 17 and 18 year olds looking for real world experience in the science industry it also engaged kws employees who want to share their passion and spark an interest in the next generation of researchers . to implement the program kws partnered with diversity awareness partnership a leading non profit organization and biostl who supported kws establishment in st. louis and work to create and reinforce strong business to business connections . this initiative follows the kws core mission and promotes engagement between kws and the community . the explore agriculture science program is a celebration of kws first year in st. louis and highlights how the grc is making an impact through the way kws does business . kws grc plans to offer the program on an annual basis . about kws kws is one of the world s leading plant breeding companies . in fiscal 2014 15 4 700 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of 986 million and earnings before interest and taxes ebit of 113 million . a company with a tradition of family ownership kws has operated independently for some 160 years . it focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn sugarbeet cereals potatoes 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 174 million last fiscal year in research and development 17.7 percent of its net sales . for more information http www.kws.com all information without the inclusion of kws 50 50 joint ventures contact mandy schnell corporate communications tel. 49 5561 311 334 mandy.schnell kws.com kws saat se http www.kws.com kws grows in a difficult market environment revenue increased in the first quarter quarterly earnings ebit mainly impacted by exchange rate effects an ebit margin of at least 10 % expected for the fiscal year as a whole kws and monsanto extend partnership to develop next generation sugarbeet technology october 21st 2015 partnership combines advanced plant breeding additional options for managing tough weeds . kws saat se and monsanto company announced today an extension of their partnership that will focus on helping u.s. and canadian sugarbeet growers manage tough to control weeds . the new technology will seek to deliver tolerance to three different herbicides glyphosate glufosinate and dicamba and is expected to be commercially available in the middle of the next decade pending regulatory approvals . combining the strengths of two industry leaders in plant breeding and crop management solutions this announcement marks the second collaboration between the two companies and would represent the next generation of weed control technology in sugarbeets . kws and monsanto partnered on the initial introduction of roundup ready sugarbeets providing north american farmers with a valuable weed management tool and resulting in the fastest adoption of any biotech crop to date . nicolas wielandt head of the sugarbeet division for kws as a leader in sugarbeet development for almost 160 years kws is committed to improving productivity by bringing new technologies and innovation to sugarbeet growers . we are happy to expand the toolbox for the farmer as additional solutions for weed control are needed . we expect that this technology will increase the efficiency of sugarbeet cultivation and help to secure the competitiveness of the crop . our intention is to make this technology available for all seed suppliers by license agreements . doug rushing sugarbeet industry affairs lead for monsanto since its adoption in 2007 roundup ready sugarbeets have helped farmers lower inputs and decrease their impact on the environment by reducing the number of times they have to drive over their fields to apply herbicides . extending this partnership with kws illustrates how we re constantly collaborating to help bring new solutions to farmers and it shows the importance of working with others to be proactive in weed resistance management . we welcome the development of new tools to help sugarbeet growers manage weeds on their farms adds john snyder president american sugarbeet growers association . our farmers are among the best in the world at producing sugar and our future depends on the ability to apply new production technology in our cropping systems . about monsanto company monsanto is committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world . we produce seeds for fruits vegetables and key crops such as corn soybeans and cotton that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other important resources more efficiently . we work to find sustainable solutions for soil health help farmers use data to improve farming practices and conserve natural resources and provide crop protection products to minimize damage from pests and disease . through programs and partnerships we collaborate with farmers researchers nonprofit organizations universities and others to help tackle some of the world s biggest challenges . to learn more about monsanto our commitments and our more than 20 000 dedicated employees please visit discover.monsanto.com and monsanto.com . follow our business on twitter at twitter.com monsantoco on the company blog beyond the rows at monsantoblog.com or subscribe to our news release rss feed . roundup ready is a registered trademark of monsanto technology llc . about kws kws is one of the world s leading plant breeding companies . in fiscal 2014 15 4 700 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of 986 million and earnings before interest and taxes ebit of 113 million . a company with a tradition of family ownership kws has operated independently for some 160 years . it focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn sugarbeet cereals potatoes 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 174 million last fiscal year in research and development 17.7 percent of its net sales . for more information www.kws.com . all information without the inclusion of kws 50 50 joint ventures kws saat se http www.kws.com u.s. contact lisa butzer corporate marketing manager lisa.butzer kws.com 952 288 2461 the kws group continues its profitable growth profit beats expectations operating income ebit surpasses original expectations technology platform expanded dividend of 3.00 per share proposed handover to next generation at arend oetker further growth anticipated for fiscal 2015 2016 kws talent scouting on global basis september 22nd 2015 after successfully participating in a marketing contest four chinese students recently came to germany to take part in a job shadowing program at kws headquarters in einbeck for one week . this was a unique opportunity for the winners to gain insights into a field of work of their choice as well as give kws further valuable exchanges on well considered insights and opinions from the chinese market . ad hoc release pursuant to section 15 of the german securities trading act wphg ad hoc release pursuant to section 15 of the german securities trading act wphg kws saat se develops plant science mentorship training program for st. louis area students teaming with diversity awareness partnership and biostl to cultivate interest in agriculture science stable growth despite tough market environment 2015 05 28 net sales in the first nine months increase by 6.9 % year on year to 777.8 million function costs increase as planned to strengthen long term growth ebit margin about 10.0 % new legal form kws saat ag is now kws saat se entry of the new legal form in the commercial register means that conversion of kws saat ag into a european stock corporation societas europaea se is now legally effective . als herbicide tolerant sugarbeet gets a name conviso smart technology kws continues its growth 2015 02 25 net sales in the first half of 2014 2015 increase slightly by 8.5 % over the same period of the previous year higher expenditure on expanding distribution and production structures research center opened in st. louis stable results expected for the year as a whole ebit margin of at least 10 % kws opens gateway research center in st. louis to strengthen work in plant research opening reception on january 22nd 2015 features science briefing showcase