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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jopawa who wrote (1566)	3/10/1999 8:37:00 PM
From: Dan Spillane	Respond to of 2539

John, I can't at this time discuss my insights on labeling, but let me assure you the issue...well...let's just say I wouldn't be swearing about it. Ha ha. You'll see why. ...more later...

To: jopawa who wrote (1566)	3/10/1999 10:43:00 PM
From: JGoren	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2539

What I see as the primary long-term danger in genetically engineered food is a reduction in the gene pool as a few genetically engineered crops and animals crowd out the wider variety existing today. This is already an existing problem and only bound to get worse. There are several projects that raise "older" varieties of crops,, especially wild varieties to maintain the species and a seed base and breeding of older varieties of farm animals. Projects such as these will have to be expanded and ideally should be funded by a tax on the genetically-engineered products or a voluntary contribution through trade groups. Otherwise, we will lose valuable gene varieties that we may need in the future.

To: jopawa who wrote (1566)	3/11/1999 3:34:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:: Du Pont seeks life sciences partnership March 11, 1999 By Robert Steyer Of The Post-Dispatch Du Pont Co., a tough competitor and rumored partner of Monsanto Co., took several steps Wednesday to bolster its life sciences businesses in the eyes of analysts and investors. But analysts said Du Pont's comments left unclear what the impact would be on Monsanto. They said, however, that a full-fledged merger or acquisition appears unlikely. Du Pont said it was seeking alliances with drug companies to expand its relatively small pharmaceutical operation, but officials said a big acquisition was not in the financial playbook. "Given the success of our discussions to date, we expect to conclude one or more of these alliances by the end of this year," said Charles O. Holliday Jr., chairman and chief executive of the Wilmington, Del., company. He wouldn't comment on possible partners. A spokeswoman said an alliance could be a joint venture, marketing agreement or research deal. Holliday also said Du Pont would create a "tracking stock," a new security that would help investors distinguish between its life sciences -- drugs, farm chemicals, biotechnology and nutrition -- and its chemicals. The company said it expected to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the end of the year. It must evaluate potential tax consequences, guard against diluting the holdings of existing shareholders and get shareholder approval. A spokeswoman said the tracking stock wasn't a precursor to a spinoff of the life sciences businesses, which, at $4.3 billion in sales last year, accounted for about 18 percent of corporate revenue. "We want to keep our science foundation intact," she said. Du Pont's life science businesses include drugs, crop protection chemicals and biotechnology research. They also include seed company alliances and ownership of St. Louis-based Protein Technologies International. Although Du Pont is the largest U.S. chemical company, its life science component is small compared to that of Monsanto or many other multinational companies. The announcement sent Du Pont's stock up $3.81, closing at $57.375 a share. Monsanto's stock rose $1 Wednesday to close at $47 a share. "There's not a lot of synergy or strategic fit" between Monsanto's and Du Pont's drugs, said William Fiala, who follows both companies for the Edward Jones brokerage. "If there was a deal, it would be just to create more size." Fiala said Du Pont's drug specialties -- AIDS, central nervous system, blood pressure -- could be a better fit with several other companies. Monsanto's strongest suit in the market and in the lab is arthritis. It also is focusing on cancer therapy, high blood pressure and women's health care. The other angle for a Monsanto-DuPont deal is crop biotechnology and farm chemicals. But Monsanto and Du Pont, through its 20 percent stake in Pioneer Hi-Bred International, dominate the U.S. market for corn and soybean seeds. Fiala said any combination would trigger an intense review by federal regulators. Du Pont's announcement was part of a plan unveiled last year to better highlight the value of the company. Last year, Du Pont spun off 30 percent of its oil subsidiary, Conoco, and will eventually sell all of it to the public. "They have a lot of attractive properties in their life sciences that haven't been reflected in their stock," Fiala said. "This is their attempt to assign value to different businesses." postnet.com