Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.7

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CLIFFORD                                                         CONFORMED COPY

CHANCE

PUNDER

                           MESSER GRIESHEIM HOLDING AG
                                   AS ASSIGNOR

                                       AND

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                   AS TRUSTEE

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                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
                              (SICHERUNGSABTRETUNG)

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                                    CONTENTS

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<Caption>

CLAUSE                                                                  PAGE
<S>                                                                     <C>

1.       Interpretation....................................................3

2.       High Yield Subordination Agreement................................4

3.       Secured Obligations...............................................4

4.       Assignment........................................................4

5.       Collection of Receivables.........................................5

6.       Right to Realisation..............................................5

7.       Release (SICHERHEITENFREIGABE)....................................6

8.       Further Information...............................................6

9.       Bookkeeping and Data-Processing...................................6

10.      Undertakings......................................................6

11.      Representations and Warranties....................................6

12.      Notices and Their Language........................................7

13.      Partial Invalidity, Waiver........................................7

14.      Applicable Law, Jurisdiction......................................8

15.      Amendment, Waiver.................................................8

16.      Costs and Expenses................................................8

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THIS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT is made the ___  day of May 2001

BETWEEN:

1.       MESSER GRIESHEIM HOLDING AG, a stock corporation organised under the
         laws of the Federal Republic of Germany which is registered in the
         commercial register (HANDELSREGISTER) of the local court (AMTSGERICHT)
         of Frankfurt am Main under HRB 42291 (the "ASSIGNOR"); and

2.       THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, having its office
         at One Canada Square, London, E14 5AL, United Kingdom, in its capacity
         as trustee under the High Yield Indenture (as defined below) (the
         "TRUSTEE").

WHEREAS

(A)      Pursuant to a senior multi-currency term and revolving facilities
         agreement dated 28 April 2001 between, INTER ALIA, Cornelia
         Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Goldman Sachs International as
         co-ordinating bank (the "CO-ORDINATING BANK"), Goldman Sachs
         International, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, J.P. Morgan plc and
         The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as joint lead arrangers (the "SENIOR
         ARRANGERS"), Chase Manhattan International Limited as senior agent (the
         "SENIOR AGENT") and as security trustee, and certain banks and
         financial institutions (the "LENDERS") and others (as amended, varied,
         novated, supplemented, superseded, increased or extended from time to
         time the "SENIOR CREDIT AGREEMENT"), the Lenders have agreed to grant
         certain facilities to those persons who become borrowers under the
         Senior Credit Agreement (the "SENIOR BORROWERS") and the Senior
         Borrowers together with those persons who become guarantors under the
         Senior Credit Agreement (the "SENIOR GUARANTORS") are the "SENIOR
         OBLIGORS".

(B)      Pursuant to a mezzanine facility agreement dated 28 April 2001 between,
         INTER ALIA, Cornelia Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Goldman Sachs
         International as co-ordinating bank (the "MEZZANINE CO-ORDINATING
         BANK"), Goldman Sachs International, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank
         AG and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as mezzanine joint lead arrangers
         (the "MEZZANINE ARRANGERS"), HypoVereinsbank Luxembourg Societe Anonyme
         as mezzanine agent (the "MEZZANINE AGENT") and Chase Manhattan
         International Limited as security trustee and certain banks and
         financial institutions (the "MEZZANINE LENDERS") and others (as
         amended, varied, novated, supplemented, superseded, increased or
         extended from time to time, the "MEZZANINE FACILITY AGREEMENT"), the
         Mezzanine Lenders have agreed to grant certain facilities to those
         persons who become borrowers under the Mezzanine Facility Agreement
         (the "MEZZANINE BORROWERS") and the Mezzanine Borrowers together with
         those persons who become guarantors under the Mezzanine Facility
         Agreement (the "MEZZANINE GUARANTORS") are the "MEZZANINE OBLIGORS".

(C)      The claims of, INTER ALIA, the Lenders under the Finance Documents (as
         defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) and of, INTER ALIA, the
         Mezzanine Lenders under the Mezzanine Finance Documents (as defined in
         the Senior Credit Agreement) are regulated and/or subordinated pursuant
         to the terms of an intercreditor deed dated 28 April 2001
         (the "INTERCREDITOR DEED").

                                         -2-

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(D)      The Assignor may issue notes pursuant to the terms of an indenture (the
         "INDENTURE") dated as of May 16, 2001 made between it and the Trustee
         (the "HIGH YIELD NOTES") the net proceeds of which are lent to Messer
         Griesheim GmbH as borrower (the "BORROWER") pursuant to a High Yield
         Proceeds Loan Agreement (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement)
         between the Assignor as lender and the Borrower in order to allow the
         Borrower to prepay in full the Mezzanine Outstandings (as defined in
         the Senior Credit Agreement) and EUR 60,000,000 principal amount of the
         Term A Facility and EUR 55,000,000 principal amount of the Term C Euro
         Facility (each as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement). Pursuant to
         a High Yield Subordination Agreement (as defined in the Senior Credit
         Agreement) any payment claims of the Assignor against the Borrower in
         relation to the High Yield Proceeds Loan Agreement are subordinated to
         the claims of the Finance Parties (as defined in the Senior Credit
         Agreement) under, pursuant to or otherwise in connection with any of
         the Finance Documents (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement).

(E)      The Assignor has granted or will grant a first-ranking pledge over its
         shares in Messer Griesheim GmbH as security for the Finance Parties'
         (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) respective claims under the
         Finance Documents (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) or any
         refinancing thereof (as amended, novated, supplemented, superseded or
         extended from time to time the "SHARE PLEDGE").

(F)      The Assignor has agreed to assign certain Receivables (as defined
         below) to the Trustee as security for the Secured Parties' (as defined
         below) respective claims against the Assignor under the High Yield
         Documents (as defined below).

(G)      The Security created by or pursuant to this Agreement is to be held and
         administered by the Trustee for and on behalf of the Secured Parties
         pursuant to the Indenture.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

1.       INTERPRETATION

1.1      In this Agreement:

         "EXCESS PROCEEDS" means the part of the proceeds arising from an
         enforcement of the Share Pledge (whether by private sale or otherwise)
         that, pursuant to the terms of the Share Pledge, is neither applied for
         discharge of the obligations secured by the Share Pledge nor to be
         transferred to third parties, but that is to be surrendered to the
         Assignor.

         "HIGH YIELD DOCUMENTS" means the Indenture, the High Yield Notes, any
         indentures and registration rights agreement relating to the High Yield
         Notes, any permitted guarantees provided in connection therewith, any
         Permitted High Yield Security, any future paid-in-kind notes
         contemplated by such indentures and registration rights agreement and
         any fee letters, indemnity letters, purchase agreements, refinancing
         and engagement letter relating to the High Yield Notes and all other
         documents relating to the issue of the High Yield Notes.

                                      -3-

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         "HIGH YIELD PAYMENT DEFAULT" means a payment default under the High
         Yield Notes, relating to principal, interest or premium, which is
         continuing.

         "RECEIVABLES" means:

         (a)      the right of the Assignor to receive in the event of an
                  enforcement of the Share Pledge (whether by private sale or
                  otherwise) the Excess Proceeds pursuant to the terms of the
                  Share Pledge (the "EXCESS SHARE PLEDGE RECEIVABLES"); and

         (b)      all payment claims due to the Assignor under the High Yield
                  Proceeds Loan Agreement (the "HIGH YIELD LOAN RECEIVABLES").
                  For the avoidance of doubt, the High Yield Loan Receivables
                  are restricted to payment claims and do not include any other
                  rights arising under or in relation to the High Yield Proceeds
                  Loan Agreement (such as rights to termination or
                  acceleration).

         "SECURED PARTIES" means the Trustee and the Holders (as defined in the
         Indenture).

         "SENIOR DISCHARGE DATE" means the date on which all liabilities and
         obligations due or incurred to any of the Senior Beneficiaries (as
         defined in the Intercreditor Deed) under the Senior Documents (as
         defined in the Intercreditor Deed) have been fully paid and discharged
         to the satisfaction of the Senior Agent (acting reasonably), whether or
         not as a result of an enforcement.

1.2      Terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
         described thereto in the Senior Credit Agreement.

1.3      This Agreement is made in the English language only. For the avoidance
         of doubt, the English language version of this Agreement shall prevail
         over any translation of this Agreement. However, where a German
         translation of a word or phrase appears in the text of this Agreement,
         the German translation of such word or phrase shall prevail.

2.       HIGH YIELD SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

         The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that all rights and obligations
         arising under or in relation to this Agreement in relation to the High
         Yield Loan Receivables are subject to the terms of the High Yield
         Subordination Agreement and agrees to such terms.

3.       SECURED OBLIGATIONS

         The assignment hereunder (the "ASSIGNMENT") is constituted in order to
         secure the prompt and complete satisfaction of any and all obligations
         (present and future, actual and contingent) which are (or are expressed
         to be) or become owing by the Assignor to the Secured Parties or any of
         them under the High Yield Documents (the "SECURED OBLIGATIONS").

4.       ASSIGNMENT

4.1      The Assignor hereby assigns to the Trustee for the benefit of the
         Secured Parties the Receivables.

                                       -4-

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4.2      The Trustee hereby accepts the assignment of the Receivables.

4.3      The existing Receivables shall pass over to the Trustee on execution of
         this Agreement and any future Receivables shall pass over to the
         Trustee at the date such Receivables arise.

5.       COLLECTION OF RECEIVABLES

5.1      At all times prior to the occurrence of a High Yield Payment Default
         and provided none of the Secured Obligations has become due and payable
         and are unpaid the Trustee authorises the Assignor to collect the
         Excess Share Pledge Receivables. The Assignor shall in doing so act
         with the care of an orderly acting merchant (SORGFALT EINES
         ORDENTLICHEN KAUFMANNS).

5.2      At all times prior to the occurrence of a High Yield Payment Default
         and provided none of the Secured Obligations has become due and payable
         and are unpaid the Trustee authorises the Assignor to collect the High
         Yield Loan Receivables. The Assignor shall in doing so act with the
         care of an orderly acting merchant (SORGFALT EINES ORDENTLICHEN
         KAUFMANNS) and subject to the terms of the High Yield Subordination
         Agreement and the High Yield Proceeds Loan Agreement.

6.       RIGHT TO REALISATION

6.1      At any time after the occurrence of a High Yield Payment Default, and
         if at any time any of the Secured Obligations has become due and
         payable and are unpaid, the Trustee shall be entitled to arrange for
         the collection of the Excess Share Pledge Receivables for and on behalf
         of the Secured Parties. The Trustee may request the Assignor to collect
         the Excess Share Pledge Receivables for and on behalf of the Secured
         Parties and the Assignor shall promptly comply with such request.

6.2      At any time after the occurrence of a High Yield Payment Default, but
         prior to the Senior Discharge Date, and if at any time any of the
         Secured Obligations has become due and payable and are unpaid, the
         Trustee shall be entitled to request that the Assignor collects the
         High Yield Loan Receivables on behalf of the Trustee with payment
         directly to the Trustee. At any time after the occurrence of a High
         Yield Payment Default and if (in addition) the Senior Discharge Date
         has occurred and at any time any of the Secured Obligations has become
         due and payable and are unpaid, the Trustee shall be entitled to
         arrange for the collection of the High Yield Loan Receivables for and
         on behalf of the Secured Parties. Any right of realisation and any
         right of collection arising under or in connection with this Agreement
         is subject to the terms of the High Yield Proceeds Loan Agreement and
         the High Yield Subordination Agreement.

6.3      Furthermore, the Trustee may request that all documents relating to any
         of the Receivables be handed over to it and the Assignor hereby agrees
         to comply with any such request.

6.4      The Trustee shall realise his rights established under this Clause 6 to
         the extent necessary to satisfy any outstanding Secured Obligations.

                                      -5-

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7.       RELEASE (SICHERHEITENFREIGABE)

         Upon complete and irrevocable satisfaction of the Secured Obligations
         as confirmed in an opinion of counsel delivered to the Trustee, the
         Trustee shall as soon as reasonably practical at the cost, expense and
         request of the Assignor reassign to the Assignor, which shall accept
         such re-assignment, the Receivables and all other rights and claims
         assigned to it under this Agreement and surrender the excess proceeds,
         if any, resulting from any realisation thereof. The Trustee will,
         however, transfer any Receivables to a third person if so required by
         law as confirmed in an opinion of counsel delivered to the Trustee.

8.       FURTHER INFORMATION

         The Assignor undertakes to provide the Trustee promptly at its request
         with all information and documents which are necessary for perfecting
         and/or enforcing the security created hereby; and such other
         information and documents which the Trustee shall request, promptly
         upon receiving such request, in respect of such perfection and
         enforcement, it being understood, however, that the Trustee has no duty
         to perfect the security created hereby.

9.       BOOKKEEPING AND DATA-PROCESSING

         If proof or documents which are necessary to identify the Receivables
         have been handed over by the Assignor to a third party (in particular a
         bookkeeping firm or a tax consultant) the Assignor hereby assigns to
         the Trustee, who accepts such assignment, its right to demand from such
         third party the return of the proof and documents. Upon the occurrence
         of a High Yield Payment Default, the Assignor hereby undertakes to
         instruct the third party to provide the Trustee upon its demand acting
         reasonably with such information and documents which are necessary to
         perfect and/or enforce the security created hereby.

10.      UNDERTAKINGS

         The Assignor undertakes to inform the Trustee promptly of any
         attachments (PFANDUNG) in respect of the Receivables or any part
         thereof or any other measures which, in each case, may materially
         impair or jeopardise the Trustee's and/or the Secured Parties' rights
         relating thereto. In the event of any such attachment, the Assignor
         undertakes to forward to the Trustee without undue delay a copy of the
         attachment order (PFANDUNGSBESCHLU(BETA)), the garnishee order
         (UBERWEISUNGSBESCHLU(BETA)) and all other documents necessary for a
         defence against the attachment. The Assignor shall inform the attaching
         creditor immediately of the Trustee's security interests.

11.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

11.1     The Assignor hereby represents and warrants to the Trustee that, except
         as permitted under the High Yield Documents, it is fully entitled to
         the assigned Receivables which are unencumbered and that the assignment
         of the Receivables is not subject to the consent of any third party and
         provided that the Assignor undertakes not to agree to such consent
         requirements unless permitted under any of the High Yield Documents.

                                          -6-

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11.2     The Assignor hereby represents and warrants to the Trustee that this
         Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms, and that the assignment
         constituted hereunder creates a valid, perfected and first ranking
         security interest in the Receivables in favour of the Trustee without
         any action being required on the part of the Trustee.

12.      NOTICES AND THEIR LANGUAGE

12.1     Any notice or other communication under or in connection with this
         Assignment Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered
         personally, or sent by first class mail or fax to the following
         addresses:

         for the Assignor:         MESSER GRIESHEIM HOLDING AG
                                   Address:   Frankfurt Airport Center 1, C9
                                              D-60547 Frankfurt am Main
                                              Germany

                                   Fax:       +49 69 508 205
                                   Attention: Vorstand

         Copy to:                  MESSER GRIESHEIM GMBH
                                   Corporate Office
                                   Frankfurt Airport Center 1, C9
                                   D-60547 Frankfurt
                                   Germany

         for the Trustee:          THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                   Address:   One Canada Square
                                              London E14 5AL
                                              United Kingdom

                                   Fax:       44-20-7964-6399
                                   Attention: Corporate Trust Department

         or to such other address as the recipient may notify or may have
         notified to the other party in writing by no less than five business
         days' notice.

12.2     Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice or other communication
         under or in connection with this Assignment Agreement shall be in the
         English language or, if in any other language, accompanied by a
         certified translation into English. In the event of any conflict
         between the English text and the text in any other language, the
         English text shall prevail, except that where a German translation of a
         German legal term appears in such text, the German translation shall
         apply, and, further, except for any constitutional, statutory or
         official document.

13.      PARTIAL INVALIDITY, WAIVER

13.1     If at any time, one or more of the provisions hereof is or becomes
         invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any
         jurisdiction, such provision shall as to

                                       -7-

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         such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent necessary without
         affecting or impairing the validity, legality and enforceability of
         the remaining provisions hereof or of such provisions in any other
         jurisdiction. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed
         replaced by such valid, legal or enforceable provision which comes
         as close as possible to the original intent of the parties and the
         invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

13.2     No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the
         Trustee, any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
         thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or
         remedy prevent any further or other exercise thereof or the exercise of
         any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided hereunder
         are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by
         law.

14.      APPLICABLE LAW, JURISDICTION

14.1     This Assignment Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
         accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.

14.2     The place of jurisdiction for any and all disputes arising under or in
         connection with this agreement shall be the district court
         (LANDGERICHT) of Frankfurt am Main. The Trustee, however, shall also be
         entitled to take legal action against the Assignor before any other
         court of competent jurisdiction. Further, the taking of proceedings
         against the Assignor in any one or more jurisdictions shall not
         preclude the taking of proceedings against the Assignor in any other
         jurisdiction (whether concurrently or not) if and to the extent
         permitted by applicable law.

15.      AMENDMENT, WAIVER

15.1     This Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only in writing in an
         agreement signed by the Trustee. This also applies to this Clause 15.1.

15.2     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
         different parties hereto on separate counterparts each of which, when
         so executed and delivered, shall be an original but all the
         counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

16.      COSTS AND EXPENSES

         All costs, expenses and taxes in connection with creation,
         administration and enforcement of the security interests granted hereby
         shall be borne by the Assignor.

THIS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT has been entered into on the date stated at the
beginning by:

                                       -8-

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MESSER GRIESHEIM HOLDING AG

ON BEHALF OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD PURSUANT TO A RESOLUTION UNDER
SECTION 78 IV 1 AKTG DATED MAY 11, 2001

By:      /s/ DR. KLAUS-JURGEN SCHMIEDER
         Name:  Dr. Klaus-Jurgen Schmieder
         Title: Member of the Management Board

THE BANK OF NEW YORK
not in its individual capacity but solely
as Trustee

By:      /s/ SUNJEEVE PATEL

         Name:  Sunjeeve Patel
         Title:  Authorized Signatory

The foregoing assignments and other terms of this Assignment Agreement
(SICHERUNGSABTRETUNG) are hereby acknowledged and agreed as of the date stated
at the beginning by:

Messer Griesheim GmbH

By:      /s/

         Name:
         Title:

By:      /s/ S MESSER

         Name:
         Title:

                                        -9-Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION

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Exhibit 10.1    
  

INVITROGEN CORPORATION  

    On April 26, 2001, the Compensation and Organization committee of the Board of Directors approved the compensation arrangements for nonemployee
directors, the terms of which are as follows: 

	1.
	Annual Retainer. A $20,000 annual retainer shall be paid following the annual stockholders meeting to all members of the Board at
such time. A pro-rata payment shall be made to any director joining the Board between annual stockholders meetings based on the following formula:(x/365) $20,000,
where × = the number of days between the date the new board member joins the board and the date of the next annual stockholdersmeeting (or, if such date is unknown, the date
one year after the date of the previous stockholders meeting).

	2.
	Retainer for Committee Chairs. An additional $4,000 annual retainer shall be paid following the annual stockholders meeting to each
chairperson of a committee of the Board. A pro-rata payment shall be made to any director becoming a chairperson of a committee of the Board between annual stockholders meetings based on
the following formula:(x/365) $4,000, where × = the number of days between the date the Board member becomes a committee chair and the date of the next annual stockholders
meeting (or, if such date is unknown, the date one year after the date of the previous stockholders meeting).

	3.
	Stock Options. Each director shall receive an initial grant of an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's common stock and
annual grants thereafter of options to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's common stock. 

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Exhibit 10.1

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00031-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00031-of-00352.parquet"}]]