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."
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. |
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