Willkie Advises Vilmorin Cie on Sale of Stake in AgReliant Genetics Joint Venture to GDM

July 8, 2025

Willkie advised Vilmorin & Cie, the world's fourth-largest seed company, on the sale of its stake in the AgReliant Genetics joint venture, alongside KWS, to GDM, a world leader in soybean genetics. Founded in 2000 as a joint venture between Vilmorin & Cie (Limagrain Field Seeds business) and KWS, AgReliant has become a major player in North American agriculture, specializing primarily in the research, production, and marketing of corn and soybean seeds. Vilmorin & Cie, through its Field Seeds business, Limagrain Field Seeds, will retain the know-how and all the corn genetic materials co-developed with KWS over the past 25 years.

The Willkie team was led by partners Eduardo Fernandez and Anna Martini Pereira and included associates Ian Morganelli, AK Lutz and Jack Kaelin.

Eduardo J. Fernandez Partner Private Equity Paris [email protected] +33 1 53 43 45 30

Anna Martini G. Pereira Partner Corporate & Financial Services New York [email protected] +1 212 728 8373

Ian P. Morganelli Associate Corporate & Financial Services New York [email protected] +1 212 728 8726

AK Lutz Associate Corporate & Financial Services Dallas [email protected] +1 214 233 4502

Jack Kaelin Associate Corporate & Financial Services New York [email protected] +1 212 728 3596

Corporate & Financial Services Mergers & Acquisitions Consumer Products and Retail Food and Beverage Retail

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