Valent Biosciences Corporation Acquires Certis USA's Public Health Business

Company Strengthens Leadership Position in Bt Insecticides

17-Mar-2003
Valent BioSciences today announced it has acquired the worldwide public health business of Certis USA, including the Teknar(R) brands of insecticide products that control mosquito and black fly larvae. In addition, the company has licensed worldwide marketing rights for Thuricide(R) biological insecticide for exclusive use in forestry markets from Certis USA. Terms of the acquisition and licensing agreements were not disclosed. The agreements strengthen Valent BioSciences' leadership position in insecticides based on the naturally occurring bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), especially in the area of public health, according to Mike Donaldson, president of the company. Valent BioSciences currently markets leading Bt brands in the public health, forestry and agricultural market segments. "We have seen substantial growth of our public health business in recent years due to the increased use of biorational products for mosquito control to prevent the spread of disease, especially West Nile Virus, dengue fever and malaria," Donaldson says. "The acquisition of Certis USA's public health business expands our market offering for the public health segment and gives us an even more robust Bt technology base for all the market segments we serve." As part of the public health business transaction, Valent BioSciences acquired Bt israelensis strains, patents, trademarks, registrations, manufacturing processes, R&D programs, and customer contracts. The licensing agreement for Thuricide insecticide, which controls Lepidopteran insect larvae such as the gypsy moth and spruce budworm, involves exclusive forestry marketing rights worldwide. Under the agreements, Certis USA will continue manufacturing the products. "The public health, forestry and agricultural markets are all of strategic importance to Valent BioSciences," Donaldson says. "We're confident that the technology base represented by both the Teknar and Thuricide agreements will yield new products for our customers in the future." Valent BioSciences, headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, is a worldwide leader in the research, development and commercialization of low risk, environmentally compatible technologies and products for the agricultural, public health, forestry and household insecticide markets. For more information on the products offered by Valent BioSciences, please visit www.valentbiosciences.com .

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