DuPont Chair & CEO: Science is the Growth Engine of DuPont

NEW YORK, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- During the Sanford Bernstein "Strategic Decisions Conference," DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman told investors that the company's "Integrated Science" gives it an advantage like no other company to deliver value to customers and shareholders.

"DuPont's three areas of scientific strength – agricultural sciences, biosciences and material sciences – are integrated and leveraged across our company to deliver unique solutions to customers' problems and create value for our shareholders," Kullman said.  She cited such examples as DuPont's work in improving fuel efficiency, creating advanced biofuels, improving food quality and growing applications of renewably sourced polymers.  "The scope of our portfolio also enables us to leverage our market knowledge globally across multiple industries and regions to drive innovation that meets local customers' needs."

Kullman continued, "We have three clear strategic priorities to generate superior shareholder returns:

• Extend our leadership in the high-value, science-driven segments of the agriculture-to-food value chains, and leverage the linkages across these segments,
• Strengthen and grow our leading position as a provider of differentiated, high-value advanced materials through science-based solutions and,
• Develop world-leading industrial biotechnology capabilities to create transformational, new bio-based businesses like biofuels and biomaterials."

DuPont's "Integrated Science" is underpinned by the company's focus on disciplined execution, according to Kullman.  "Productivity is not a program; it is part of every business, function and region's game plan.  It is cost productivity, working capital productivity, as well as productivity and returns from our capital expenditures and investments in R&D."

DuPont has increased its research and development by approximately 50 percent over the past five years, targeted at its highest value-creating opportunities.  Likewise, DuPont is allocating more capital expenditures to businesses that have proven they can generate faster growth and higher cash returns.  "This productivity and resource allocation discipline accelerates science-driven innovations for customers and increases the value of DuPont for its shareholders," Kullman said.

The webcast recording of today's presentation is available at the Investor Center at dupont.com.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by DuPont, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign currency exchange rates, of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including restructuring plans, acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; cost of raw materials, research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance; seasonality of sales of agricultural products; and severe weather events that cause business interruptions, including plant and power outages, or disruptions in supplier and customer operations. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future developments or new information.

SOURCE DuPont