UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURTIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 6, 2002
MONSANTO COMPANY
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 001-16167 43-1878297
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
800 North Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63167
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (314) 694-1000
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
99 Conference call script prepared for use by the Vice President of
U.S. Branded Business of Monsanto Company on September 6, 2002
during a conference call hosted by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
for certain of its customers.
ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
On September 6, 2002, Monsanto Company's Vice President of U.S. Branded
Business, Kerry Preete, will participate in a conference call hosted by Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc. for certain of its customers. The conference call script
used by Mr. Preete during the conference call is attached to this report as
Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.
We are furnishing the information contained in this report, including the
attached conference call script, pursuant to Regulation FD promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This information is furnished
pursuant to Item 9 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section, unless we specifically incorporate
it by reference in a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. By filing this report on Form 8-K and
furnishing this information, we make no admission as to the materiality of any
information in this report that is required to be disclosed solely by reason of
Regulation FD or that the information includes material investor information
that is not otherwise publicly available.
The information contained in this report, including the information
contained in the attached conference call script, is summary information that is
intended to be considered in the context of our SEC filings and other public
announcements that we may make, by press release or otherwise, from time to
time. We disclaim any current intention to revise or update the information
contained in this report, including the information contained in the attached
conference call script, although we may do so from time to time as our
management believes is warranted. Any such updating may be made through the
filing of other reports or documents with the SEC, through press releases or
through other public disclosure.
Certain statements contained in this report, including the information
contained in the attached conference call script, such as statements concerning
the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product
performance, regulatory approvals, currency impact, business and financial plans
and other non-historical facts are "forward-looking statements." 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: fluctuations in exchange rates and other developments related to foreign
currencies and economies; increased generic and branded competition for the
company's Roundup herbicide; the success of the company's research and
development activities and the speed with which regulatory authorizations and
product launches may be achieved; domestic and foreign social, legal and
political developments, especially those relating to agricultural products
developed through biotechnology; the accuracy of the company's estimates and
projections, for
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example, those with respect to product returns and grower use of our products
and related distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to continue to
manage its costs; the company's ability to successfully market new and existing
products in new and existing domestic and international markets; the company's
ability to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the company's ability
to achieve and maintain protection for its intellectual property; the effects of
the company's accounting policies and changes in generally accepted accounting
principles; the company's exposure to lawsuits and other liabilities and
contingencies, including those related to intellectual property, product
liability, regulatory compliance (including seed quality), environmental
contamination and antitrust; the effect of weather conditions and commodity
markets on the agriculture business; the company's ability to fund its
short-term financing needs; general economic and business conditions; any
changes in business, political and economic conditions due to threat of future
terrorist activity and related military action; and other risks and factors
detailed in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. The company disclaims any current intention to revise or update any
forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
A copy of the attached conference call script is available for viewing on
our website located at http:\\www.monsanto.com, although we reserve the right to
discontinue that availability at any time.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: September 6, 2002
MONSANTO COMPANY
By: /s/ Michael L. DeCamp
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Name: Michael L. DeCamp
Assistant Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
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99 Conference call script prepared for use by the Vice President
of U.S. Branded Business of Monsanto Company on September 6,
2002 during a conference call hosted by Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc. for certain of its customers.
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