Celesio AG / Acquisition 26.03.2009 Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celesio to be one of the leading international personnel and marketing service providers for the pharmaceutical industry - Massive expansion of service provision for pharmaceutical manufacturers - Acquisition of majority stake in pharmexx - Movianto market entry in Benelux countries Stuttgart, 26 March 2009. Celesio, one of the leading international trading and services companies in pharma markets is expanding its Manufacturer Solutions division and pushing ahead with the international outlook of the Group. Celesio today announced that it is acquiring the majority of shares in pharmexx GmbH, a global personnel and marketing services provider for the pharmaceutical industry in which Celesio previously held a 30 per cent shareholding. Celesio also announced the acquisition of Dirk Raes NV in Belgium. Dirk Raes is the leading provider of cold chain logistics for pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Benelux countries. pharmexx and its highly qualified sales representatives enjoy an excellent reputation amongst pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company from Hirschberg with its 5,500 employees worldwide offers individual and cost-efficient personnel and marketing solutions to pharmaceutical manufacturers in 26 countries. Interim figures show that pharmexx earned revenues of 269 million euros in 2008. 'As part of our Manufacturer Solutions division and in conjunction with the operational resources of our other divisions, pharmexx will be able to offer the pharmaceutical industry an outstanding range of services and a specific level of quality in the future. We will also continue to promote development of pharmexx in the areas of personnel services and marketing solutions', emphasised Fritz Oesterle, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Celesio. With the acquisition of a majority stake of 65 per cent, pharmexx will now be fully consolidated with Celesio. The acquisition of Dirk Raes, a specialised logistics company for pharmaceutical manufacturers, heralds the market entry of Celesio subsidiary Movianto in the market for cold chain logistics for pharmaceuticals in the Benelux countries. Dirk Raes is the leading provider in this small but up-and-coming market and has been a reliable partner for the pharmaceutical industry since 1978. In 2007 the company earned revenues in the upper single-digit million Euro range and currently has 65 employees. As a consequence of the acquisition Movianto now has a presence in eleven European countries. The Management Board member responsible for the Manufacturer Solutions division, Wolfgang Mähr, said that pharmexx and Dirk Raes 'have set further milestones for the internationalisation of the division and for the comprehensive market presence of Movianto in Europe'. The increase in the shareholding in pharmexx is subject to approval by anti-trust regulatory authorities. Press contact: Rainer Berghausen, Celesio AG, +49 (0)711.5001-549 rainer.berghausen@celesio.com DGAP 26.03.2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Celesio AG Neckartalstr. 155 70376 Stuttgart Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)711 5001-735 Fax: +49 (0)711 5001-736 E-mail: investor@celesio.com Internet: www.celesio.com ISIN: DE000CLS1001 WKN: CLS100 Indices: MDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Hannover, Hamburg; Terminbörse EUREX End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: Celesio AG: Celesio to be one of the leading international personnel and marketing
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