Genencor International, Inc., today announced its plans to acquire an equity position in ProdiGene, Inc. to develop enzymes using transgenic plants. Wayne Pitcher, senior vice president of technology, Genencor International, made the announcement in a speech at ProdiGene's grand opening of its new business and research headquarters in College Station,
Texas.

The equity investment combines Genencor's skills at developing enzymes and biochemicals with
unique functionality and ProdiGene's skills in plant biotechnology. The two companies have
worked together since 1997 to develop plants to make valuable proteins and performance materials for industrial applications.

"We are convinced that the combination of ProdiGene's leading position in the transgenic production of proteins in plants with Genencor's strong industrial biotechnology position provides
a powerful base for collaboration,'' Pitcher said. ``We believe that transgenic plants and
recombinant microorganisms provide complementary capabilities for producing proteins. It is clear
to me that both approaches will have significant roles to play in providing the biological products
of the future.''

Genencor International is one of the largest biotechnology companies and the second largest
producer of industrial enzymes in the world. Products are sold to industrial users in the fields of
cleaning products, textile processing, grain processing and animal feed. The company has its
corporate headquarters in Rochester, N.Y., its European headquarters in Leiden, The
Netherlands and its R&D facility in Palo Alto, Calif. The company operates seven manufacturing
sites in five countries around the world.

Company news release
N1806