Singapore, May 14, 2009: Biotechnology company, Devgen and Leads Agri have announced the signing of an agreement for the distribution of Devgen's hybrid rice products by Leads Agri for the Philippine territory.

Both companies will combine their respective expertise. Leads Agri is said to be a market leader in the distribution of high quality agrochemicals in the Philippines with country wide presence. Devgen is an important player in the field of hybrid rice seed breeding, production and marketing in India benefiting from a global technology platform. Devgen furthermore established a presence in the Philippines with breeding stations, working on a pipeline for tropical hybrid rice, and production of hybrid rice seed in Mindanao for the Philippine market.

Under this collaboration, Devgen and Leads Agri will jointly promote Devgen's hybrid rice product with Leads Agri's chemical solutions to provide a complete solution for the Philippine rice farmers. The hybrid seeds will be sold under Devgen's "Frontline" brand name.

"It is a pleasure to work with Leads Agri, one of the leading distributors in the Philippines for agrochemical products", said Mr Thierry Bogaert, CEO, Devgen, "Leads Agri shares our philosophy of building a strong relationship with the farmer."

Mr Fernando Malvedo, CEO, Leads Agri said, "We are deeply honored by the trust & confidence that Devgen, a global force in Hybrid seeds has given to Leads Agri. As the leading Filipino crop protection company, it is our earnest desire to continue serving the Filipino farmers not only with high quality crop protection products but also provide the latest in biotechnology i.e. hybrid rice which will help them achieve a high level of productivity that will result to their economic upliftment. With the hybrid seeds in its product portfolio,”

Leads Agri is now said to be in a much better position to further strengthen its position as the 3rd largest crop protection company in the Philippines, only behind the two giant multinational companies.