Ghent, Belgium, June 2, 2009 - Devgen (Euronext Brussels: DEVG)
announces today that Gengest BVBA, represented by Mr. Rudi Mariën,
and Mr. Orlando de Ponti have been appointed members of the Board of
Directors.
Mr Mariën is, through his investment company Biovest ComVa, an
important shareholder of Devgen nv. He was the co-founder, reference
shareholder and chairman of the biotech company Innogenetics. He
brings to Devgen significant experience in the management of both
private and public businesses. Rudi Mariën holds a degree in
pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Gent, and is
specialized in clinical biology.
Mr. de Ponti gained important experience in the breeding and seed
business working for the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and as a
Managing Director R&D of Nunhems B.V. Nunhems is a global
seed company with important operations in India. He is the President
of the International Seed Federation (ISF), and holds various other
external functions. Mr. Orlando de Ponti graduated as Agricultural
Engineer and as doctor at the Wageningen Agricultural University.
Thierry Bogaert, Devgen's CEO and member of the board welcomes both
Mr Mariën and Mr de Ponti to Devgen's board of Directors: "We are
convinced their knowledge and many years of experience will
contribute significantly to the Board and to the Company."
Remi Vermeiren, chairman of the board added: " I am very pleased with
this expansion of the board of Devgen. Both new directors will
without doubt bring substantial added value to the development of
Devgen: Mr Mariën as a dynamic entrepreneur and longterm investor
with experience in biotechnology; Mr de Ponti with both scientific as
commercial experience in seed and breeding."
About Devgen
Devgen's mission is to enable farmers to sustainably grow more food
on less land, with less water, agrochemicals and labor.
Devgen uses advanced biotechnology and molecular breeding technology
to make high yielding seeds and crop protection solutions with a
superior environmental profile.
Devgen brings this technology to the market in the world's major food
and feed crops through two complementary strategies:
- Licensing Devgen technology for use in corn, cotton and soy and
selected other crops in exchange for R&D funding, and milestone and
royalty payments.
- Producing and selling its premium hybrid seeds in major field
crops such as rice, sunflower, sorghum, and pearl millet, in the
Indian subcontinent and S.E. Asia.
In its Crop Protection unit, Devgen develops a novel nematicide, an
agro-chemical product that protects crops from damage by parasitic
nematodes.
Incorporated in 1997, Devgen has offices in Ghent (Belgium),
Singapore, Hyderabad (India) and Delaware (US) and employs more than
200 people.
For more information please contact:
Thierry Bogaert, CEO Wim
Goemaere, CFO
Tel. +32 9 324.24.24 Tel.
+32 9324.24.24
Thierry.Bogaert@devgen.com Wim.Goemaere@devgen.com
or visit: www.devgen.com
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the words "anticipates", "expects" , "intends", "plans", "estimates",
"may" and "continues" as well as similar expressions. Such forward
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and other factors which might cause the actual results, performance
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