At a conference with security analysts Thursday in New York City, DuPont Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Jeff Keefer reviewed the company’s accelerated growth plan, designed to nearly double DuPont’s earnings growth rate over the next three years.

“As a market-driven science company, DuPont’s competitive advantage is new product innovation,” Jeff said.  “Our rising return from innovation and rapid growth in emerging markets are key growth drivers for us.  We will continue to execute our growth strategies while maintaining financial discipline and increasing productivity gains across the company.” 

The actions DuPont is taking are expected to increase the company’s revenue growth rate from 5 percent to about 7-9 percent per year, including 1-2 percent from bolt-on acquisitions, Jeff said. 

Based on current plans, DuPont projects it can achieve earnings per share growth of 10 percent or more, on average, between 2008 and 2010, despite anticipated declines in pharmaceutical royalties after patents expire in 2010.  Jeff said the company’s goal is to achieve 2010 earnings per share within a range of USD 4.05 to USD 4.30.  In 2007, the company earned USD 3.28 per share, excluding net significant item charges of USD .06 per share. 

The company intends to capitalize on rising global demand for its science-based products in agriculture and safety and protection; further penetrate key markets in the world’s rapidly growing geographies; and extend its productivity improvement programs.  DuPont expects to generate USD 1.7 billion in productivity gains over the next three years by continuing efforts already under way to streamline and simplify its supply chains and business support operations, Jeff told the investors.