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1856
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Matthias Christian Rabbethge acquires the majority holding in the Zuckerfabrik Kleinwanzleben and forms a general commercial partnership
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1859
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Matthias Rabbethge jun. begins beet breeding
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1900
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World leader in sugar beet seed business with branches in Ukraine, for example
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1920
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Launch of cereal, fodder beet and potato breeding
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1945
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Move to Einbeck and a new start
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Since 1955
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Further expansion of breeding operations to include corn, oil and protein crops
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Since 1961
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Establishment of subsidiaries in Europe and overseas
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1967/68
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Merger of cereal breeding companies Heine Peragis and LOCHOW-PETKUS
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1972
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First laboratory for cell biology
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1975
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Inclusion of the abbreviation KWS in the company name: KWS Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG vormals Rabbethge & Giesecke Aktiengesellschaft
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1984
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Founding of PLANTA with focus on biotechnology
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1990
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Reacquisition of the breeding station in Kleinwanzleben
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1996
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Revenue of KWS grows to more than 250 million euros (325 mill. US$)
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1999
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Change of the company‘s name to KWS SAAT AG
Inauguration of the biotechnological research center "Biotechnikum" in Einbeck
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2000
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The workforce of the KWS Group grows to over 2,000. Cooperation with our French partner LIMAGRAIN in North America and creation of the corn company AgReliant
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2003
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Inauguration of the new administrative building in Einbeck
The share of foreign trade in the sales of the KWS Group reaches 70%
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2006
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Company anniversary: 150 years of KWS
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2008
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Integration of the brands Lochow-Petkus and CBT Twyford under the umbrella of KWS |
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2011
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Expansion of potato breeding with the foundation of the wholy owned subsidiary KWS POTATO B.V. following acquisition of the 50% share of van Rijn |
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2011
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Reorganisation of research and development: Institut für Pflanzenzüchtung und PLANTA Angewandte Pflanzengenetik and Biotechnologie GmbH are consolidated under the roof of KWS SAAT AG |
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2015
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New legal form: KWS SAAT AG is now KWS SAAT SE
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Today
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KWS* is a leading company in plant breeding, with about 60 subsidiaries and affiliated companies worldwide and operations in over 70 countries. In fiscal 2014/2015, KWS generated net sales of € 986 million and has more than 4,700 employees. More than 80% of the net sales were generated abroad. The company invested € 174 million last fiscal year in research and development, 17.7 percent of its net sales.
*All information without the inclusion of KWS’ 50/50 joint ventures
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