Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP announced today that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of purchasers of DNA Plant Technology Corp. ("DNAP") (Nasdaq: DNAP) $2.25 Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, whose stock was converted pursuant to a September 1996 merger, into common stock of DNAP Holding Corp. ("DHC").

If you are a member of the Class described above, you may, no later than 60 days from January 26, 1999, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff of the Class, if you so choose. In order to serve as lead plaintiff, however, you must meet certain legal requirements. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please call 1-800-449-4900 or contact us via our Web site.

The complaint charges DNAP, DHC, Empresas La Moderna, SA de C.V. and certain of their officers and directors with violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint alleges that the Aug. 13, 1996 Proxy Statement/Prospectus that DNAP and DHC disseminated to DNAP shareholders, recommending approval of the merger, improperly failed to disclose that the real reasons for the merger were (1) to realize value for a strain of high-nicotine tobacco that DNAP had illegally developed for tobacco company Brown & Williamson, and (2) to increase the indemnity coverage of DNAP's officers and directors to insulate them from financial liability for those illegal acts.

The complaint further alleges that the conversion of the DNAP Preferred Stock into DHC Common Stock eliminated the rights and preferences of the DNAP Preferred Stockholders. After the
DNAP-DHC merger was consummated, DNAP pleaded guilty in January 1998 to conspiracy to violate the Tobacco Seed Export Law.

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of DNAP $2.25 Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock converted into common stock of DHC pursuant to the September 1996 merger (the "Class"). The plaintiff is represented by two law firms, including Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP, who have expertise in prosecuting investor class actions and extensive experience in actions involving financial fraud.

Milberg Weiss has been actively engaged in commercial litigation, emphasizing securities and antitrust class actions, for more than 30 years. The firm has offices in New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boca Raton and is active in major litigation pending in federal and state courts throughout the United States. The firm's reputation for excellence has been recognized on repeated occasions by courts which have appointed the firm to major positions in complex multi-district or consolidated litigations. Milberg Weiss has taken a lead role in numerous important actions on behalf of defrauded investors, and has been responsible for a number of outstanding recoveries which, in the aggregate, total approximately $2 billion.

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