Vilmorin & Cie

M&A Activity • Oct 27, 2009

October 27th 2009

Public limited company with Board of Directors, with a capital of 204 225 819.25 Euros. Head Office: 4, Quai de la Mégisserie – F-75001 PARIS SIREN 377 913 728 PARIS Fiscal year from July 1st to June 30th

Vilmorin develops its business on the Indian field seeds market and broadens its access to upstream technologies with Avesthagen Limited.

Within the framework of their collaboration, Vilmorin has just taken control of the field seeds assets of Avesthagen Limited ("Avesthagen"), which have been regrouped into the company Atash Seeds Private Limited ("Atash"). Atash, a joint venture between Vilmorin (majority shareholder) and Avesthagen, has its own gene pool and research programs focusing mainly on corn, sunflower and rice, and also owns a plant biotechnology laboratory, based in Hyderabad (India).

This operation will enable Vilmorin to penetrate the field seeds market in India, reinforcing the activities and sites it has already developed in vegetable seeds.

At the same time as this acquisition, Vilmorin has broadened its current research collaboration with Avesthagen by signing further agreements on world licenses for the use of upstream technologies both for field seed and vegetable seed crops. The agreement mainly involves the development of hybrid rice and genes of tolerance to hydric stress.

"This acquisition in field seeds represents a new stage in Vilmorin's plan for development in India, one of the foremost seed markets in the world, and where progress in plant breeding is accelerating fast. Moreover this access to new upstream technologies will enable us to develop more efficient vegetable and field seeds to meet the evolution of food needs in India and more widely in Asia", Adrian Huige, Vilmorin's CEO emphasized.

COMING DISCLOSURES AND EVENTS

Thursday November 12th 2009 at the end of the day: sales at the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year 2009-2010.

Tuesday December 8th 2009: Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (Maison des Arts et Métiers, Paris 16ème).

Listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (compartment B), Vilmorin's quotation is included in the Next 150, CAC Mid 100 and SBF 120 indices, and is eligible for SRD (Deferred Settlement Order). ISIN code: FR0000052516 (RIN).

For any further information, please contact:

Daniel JACQUEMOND Claire PLANCHE Chief Financial Officer Financial Communication Officer daniel.jacquemond@vilmorin.info claire.planche@vilmorin.info

Vilmorin & Cie BP 1 – F-63720 CHAPPES Tél. + 33 (0)4 73 63 41 95 - Fax : + 33 (0)4 73 63 41 80 www.vilmorin.info