WORLD CLASS LIFE SCIENCE COMPANY SIGNS PRE LET OF 41,500 SQ FT LABORATORY AT CHESTERFORD

Illumina Inc, one of the word’s leading developers, manufacturers and marketers of next generation life-science tools and integrated systems, is establishing its new European headquarters at Chesterford Research Park, at the heart of the South Cambridge Science Cluster.

The US-based company has taken a pre-let of the 41,500 sq ft Gonville Laboratory at the Park. Illumina is currently enjoying rapid expansion and this week announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2007, reporting revenue of $366.8 million, a 99% increase over the $184.6 million reported in 2006.

In November 2006, Illumina acquired Solexa, who have been established at Chesterford Research Park since October 2000. Since that time, Chesterford has assisted the company’s growth through the provision of different types of laboratory and office accommodation.

Martin Sylvester, Director of Churchmanor Estates Plc, joint developers of the Park with Morley Fund Management commented “Securing such a major pre letting is a real coup for Chesterford. We have worked hard to provide both our new and existing occupiers with the capability to expand at Chesterford and also to provide excellent Park facilities to ensure that they and their staff enjoy working here.”

He continued: “This is an important pre letting, which takes the total of new laboratories to approaching 150,000 sq ft with existing laboratories in addition. It’s a tremendous endorsement for Chesterford Research Park that another existing occupier has decided to expand its facilities with us and Illumina’s increased presence strengthens the Park’s reputation as a centre of excellence in the South Cambridge Biotech cluster.”

Speaking about the company and the move, Alan Kersey, VP & Site Manager for Illumina said: “Illumina’s Chesterford site plays a key role in research and development. Just last week we made a ground breaking announcement that in a matter of weeks Illumina scientists sequenced the first African male genome using the Company’s Genome Analyzer.” Kersey continued: “We have enjoyed a long-standing collaborative relationship with the Chesterford Research Park management group, and look forward to extending our tenure in this new facility.”

This is the second major letting Chesterford Park has secured in as many months, following closely on the announcement that Pfizer Inc., the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, is to extend its R&D operation at the Park by leasing the new 41,850 sq ft Emmanuel Laboratory and occupying additional temporary laboratory accommodation.

Set in 250 acres of open parkland in the South Cambridge Biotech Cluster, Chesterford Research Park offers science and technology-based companies innovative designed buildings, developed to suit their individual needs, together with full support services including The Nucleus, a central facility centre, a gymnasium, restaurant, bar, shop, conference rooms and a 7-hole golf course. Since its inception some 7 years ago, the Park has attracted continuing and growing investment from bioscience companies, establishing itself – and the wider South Cambridge area - as one of the UK’s leading R&D locations.

Joint agents Atis Real and Carter Jonas advised Morley Fund Management and The Churchmanor Estates Plc and Cushman & Wakefield advised Illumina Inc.