Delta and Pine Land Company Announces Acquisition of Syngenta's Global Cotton Seed Assets; Further Expands Worldwide Presence

Adds Conventional and Transgenic Germplasm to Portfolio; India Research Facility Bolsters Regional Operations 


SCOTT, Miss., May 22  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta and Pine Land Company (NYSE:DLP) ("D&PL" or the "Company"), a leading commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed, today announced that it has acquired Syngenta's (NYSE:SYT) global cotton seed business, comprised of operations and assets in India, Brazil, Europe, and certain cotton germplasm in the United States.  The primary assets involved consist of conventional and transgenic germplasm containing Syngenta's VipCot(TM) insect-resistant cotton genes.  D&PL acquired a license to VipCot in 2004 and expects to commercialize varieties containing these traits in 2008 or 2009, subject to receiving regulatory approvals.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Tom Jagodinski, President and CEO of D&PL said, "Syngenta's cotton germplasm assets contain a number of high yielding lines for the U.S., India, and potentially other markets around the world.  This acquisition further strengthens our already robust cotton germplasm portfolio and enhances our VipCot development pipeline.  The acquisition of additional Indian assets is an excellent geographic fit and a natural extension of our business strategy. With this acquisition, we now have cotton seed germplasm and distribution assets in each of the three primary growing regions of India."

Ioana Tudor, Global Head, Corn, Soybean and Cotton Traits of Syngenta, states, "We are pleased with the strengthening of our relationship with Delta and Pine Land, the global cotton seed market leader.  Syngenta will continue to focus on the development of VipCot(TM), a novel insect control trait. Syngenta is dedicated to delivering a full range of innovations, from traits to chemistries, and this will support our programs to further build offerings for cotton growers."

About Delta and Pine Land Company

Delta and Pine Land Company is a leading commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed.  Headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, with multiple offices in eight states and facilities in several foreign countries, D&PL also breeds, produces and markets soybean planting seed in the U.S.  For more information, please refer to the Company's Web site at http://www.deltaandpine.com/.

Certain matters discussed in this release are "forward-looking statements," including statements about the Company's future plans, goals and other events, which have not yet occurred.  These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  They can generally be identified because the context of such statements will include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects" or words of similar import. It is the nature of agricultural seed businesses that supply, demand and their timing are affected by many variables, including commodity prices, weather and government policy. Due to the seasonal nature of the seed business, the Company typically incurs losses in its first and fourth quarters.  Additional risks and uncertainties with respect of the Company's business and forward looking statements are set forth in the Company's latest filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

D&PL is a registered trademark of Delta and Pine Land Company.

VipCot is a trademark of Syngenta. 

DATASOURCE: Delta and Pine Land Company



CONTACT:  Investors - Tom Jagodinski of Delta and Pine Land Company,

[phone]; or Media - Jonathan Gasthalter, or Cassandra Bujarski, both

of Citigate Sard Verbinnen, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.deltaandpine.com/ 

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