Syngenta may consider Dow agri-sci bid if for sale

ZURICH, March 1 (Reuters) - Syngenta AG (SYNN.VX) could consider bidding for Dow Chemical Co's (DOW.N) agricultural sciences unit if it were put up for sale, a spokesman for the Swiss agrochemicals company said on Sunday.

Dow is in talks with a group of private-equity firms about an investment in its agricultural-sciences unit, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. [ID:nN27380142]

The Journal also said the business had received attention from Syngenta, among other potential corporate buyers.

"If they were to put that up for sale then Syngenta would be interested in looking at that, as we would be interested in any opportunity," Syngenta spokesman Medard Schoenmaeckers said.

"We do not formally know that they are putting their agsciences unit up for sale," Schoenmaeckers said. "If it were to be an option, I would say it would be an option that we could consider." (Reporting by Sam Cage; Editing by Ted Kerr)