BEIJING, Nov 24, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Agria Corporation (NYSE: GRO) (the "Company" or "Agria"), an
innovative China-based agri-solutions provider, today announced
management and board changes.
-- The Board has accepted the resignation of Kenneth Hua Huang effective
November 30, 2008. Huang has served as chief executive officer of Agria
since June 2, 2008. He was originally hired in July 2007 as co-chief
executive officer.
-- Guanglin (Alan) Lai, chairman of Agria, has been appointed by the
board as chief executive officer effective November 30, 2008. In addition
to being Agria's founder and chairman of the board, he served as co-chief
executive officer until June 2, 2008.
-- The Company's board of directors has accepted the resignation of
Zhaohua (Paul) Qian effective November 21, 2008, reducing the number of
directors to eight from nine.
-- Agria has promoted Yue (Frank) Zhao to the position of chief operating
officer effective December 1, 2008. Zhao has served as deputy general
manager of Agria's subsidiary in Shenzhen, China ("Shenzhen Agria") since
August 2008. In his new position as Agria's chief operating officer, Mr.
Zhao's expanded responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day corporate
operations, with an active role in developing and executing the company's
growth strategy.
-- The Company has appointed U Kean Seng to the position of head of
corporate and legal affairs effective December 5, 2008. Mr. U has more than
18 years of international corporate and corporate finance experience,
specializing in cross border mergers and acquisitions, as well as
international corporate finance and capital markets practices.
-- The Company's management and board have approved the audit committee's
recommendation that it prepare and present its financial statements in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The
Company currently prepares and presents its financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States. The change to IFRS will commence with the Company's financial
statements for the quarter and fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
Background on Frank Zhao and U Kean Seng
Yue (Frank) Zhao, 44 years old, has more than 20 years of management
experience and a track record of proven operations leadership. Zhao
has served as deputy general manager of Shenzhen Agria since August
2008. He previously served as managing director of Yetop
International Investment Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong), responsible for the
firm's RMB 1 billion investment in the Chinese hydropower industry.
Prior to that Zhao served as executive director and president of
Lianhong Investment Co. Ltd, responsible for investments totaling
more than RMB 441 million in land development, technology, chemicals
and transportation. Zhao earlier served as vice president of Bossen
International Ltd. (Hong Kong); executive vice president of Bocom
Group (China); chief executive officer of Xiamen Headsun Intelligent
Software Systems (China); Vice President of Compass Pacific Holdings
Limited (Hong Kong); chief operating officer of Compass Pacific
Automotive Co., Ltd. (China); and held executive level positions with
Yatton Group (China), a subsidiary of Esquel Enterprises Ltd. (Hong
Kong). Zhao holds a B.E. in Management Information Systems and a M.E.
in Industrial Business Administration from Tsinghua University
(Beijing). Zhao also received a Masters in Economics from the State
University of New York at Buffalo.
U Kean Seng, 42 years old, has more than 18 years of international
corporate and corporate finance experience, specializing in cross
border mergers and acquisitions, as well as international corporate
finance and capital markets practices. He has extensive experience
in advising multi-national corporations and sovereign entities on
direct investments in The People's Republic of China as well as
offshore mergers and acquisitions of foreign assets by The People's
Republic of China entities. Mr. U is currently based in Singapore
practicing in the firm of Shooklin & Bok LLP, focused on East Asia.
Concurrently, since the establishment of joint law venture in 2000,
he has practiced as part of Allen & Overy Shooklin & Bok, JLV, an
international law venture partnership with London based Allen & Overy
LLP. Mr. U serves as a partner in pro-bono community legal services
and sits as independent and non-executive directors of several public
listed corporations. Mr U received Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree
from Monash University (Australia). He is a Barrister-and-Solicitor,
Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia; Advocate & Solicitor, Supreme
Court of Singapore. In addition to his extensive legal knowledge, Mr
U is also a qualified Economist, having completed his degree majoring
in Economics and Accounting, B Ec at Monash University, Australia.
About Agria Corporation
Agria Corporation (NYSE: GRO) is an innovative China-based
agri-solutions provider focusing on research and development,
production and distribution of three different types of upstream
agricultural products. Its diversified portfolio of products
comprises corn seeds, sheep breeding and seedlings, including
proprietary products. The Company has access to approximately 27,000
acres of farmland in seven provinces and its extensive distribution
network provides direct or third party distribution in 14 provinces.
For more information about Agria Corporation, please visit
www.agriacorp.com.
Safe Harbor Statement:
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as
"will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Agria
may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its
periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
Forms 20-F and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in
press releases and other written materials and in oral statements
made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties.
Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about
Agria's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
those risks outlined in Agria's filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release
is as of the date of this announcement unless otherwise stated, and
Agria does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking
statement, except as required under applicable law.
Contacts:
In China:
Matt Feng
Investor Relations
China Tel: 133-1130-0320
matt.feng@agriacorp.com
In the U.S.:
David Pasquale
Senior Vice President
U.S. Tel: +914-337-1117
david.pasquale@agriacorp.com
SOURCE: Agria Corporation
mailto:matt.feng@agriacorp.com
mailto:david.pasquale@agriacorp.com