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Invitrogen Sets Date for Special Meeting of Shareholders to Vote on Proposed Merger with Applied Biosystems

Monday, August 25, 2008

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CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) today announced it has set the date for a special meeting of its shareholders, to consider the proposed acquisition of Applied Biosystems Inc. The special meeting of shareholders will be held on October 16, 2008, at 9 a.m., PT at Invitrogen’s headquarters, 5781 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008. Invitrogen shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 5, 2008 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. The Company expects to commence mailing the proxy statement and all relevant materials to Invitrogen shareholders the week of September 8, 2008. Approval of both companies’ shareholders is a condition to the closing of the transaction. The transaction is also subject to the approval of the European Commission and other customary closing conditions.

As previously announced on June 12, 2008, the Boards of Directors of Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems Inc. (formerly known as Applera Corporation) approved a definitive merger agreement under which Invitrogen will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Applied Biosystems Inc. in a cash and stock transaction valued at $6.7 billion.

Stockholders who have questions about the merger or need assistance in submitting their proxy or voting their shares should contact the Company's proxy solicitor, The Altman Group, toll-free at (866) 530-8621.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen’s own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells, cell therapy and cell biology – placing Invitrogen’s products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of approximately $1.3 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.Invitrogen.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed transaction, Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems have filed a proxy statement/prospectus as part of a registration statement on Form S-4 regarding the proposed transaction with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. The final joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of both companies. Investors and security holders are urged to read it in its entirety because it will contain important information about Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems and the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents may also be obtained free of charge from Invitrogen by directing such requests to: Invitrogen Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations 5791 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of their management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information concerning all of the participants in the solicitation is included in the proxy statement relating to the proposed merger. Each of these documents is, or will be, available free of charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov and from Invitrogen Investor Relations, telephone: 760-603-7200 or on Invitrogen’s website at http://www.invitrogen.com.

Source: BUSINESS WIRE