WEESP, 9 JULY 2007
A move to align manufacturing facilities with future needs
and focus on strategic priorities
Solvay Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Ltd of India, with the aim of transferring the fine chemicals and vitamin D business to Dishman. As part of this deal all facilities, people and activities on Solvay’s Veenendaal site in the Netherlands will be transferred to Dishman for an undisclosed amount. Pending satisfactory completion of due diligence procedures, approval from the relevant authorities and appropriate employee information procedures, the transferring ownership should be completed during 2007.
The intended sale of Solvay’s site in Veenendaal (44 employees in total) is a result of Solvay Pharmaceuticals’s strategy to focus on the main therapeutic areas of cardiometabolic and neuroscience treatments. Solvay is planning to book the operation in its accounts in the second half of 2007. It is not expected to have a material impact on the Solvay Group’s results.
The Veenendaal site of Solvay Pharmaceuticals houses the business group Vitamins & Chemicals. Main activities of this group are the production, marketing and sales of cholesterol and cholesterol related products. Cholesterol is used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, technical, and crustacean feed applications. Vitamin D analogues are used for pharmaceutical applications.
“Solvay Pharmaceuticals strategy focuses on sustainable and profitable growth in its selected main therapeutic areas of cardiometabolic and neuroscience treatments,” stated Francesc Junyent, Executive Vice President Global Manufacturing & Supply for Solvay Pharmaceuticals. “As Veenendaal no longer fits into this selection we have looked for a good alternative, to ensure the best possible future for the site and its employees. This intended transfer to Dishman and the resulting security of employment for the people on the site are very welcome.”
Dishman will retain production of cholesterol and vitamin D analogues at Veenendaal and transfer the vitamin D3 production to its Indian plants.
About Solvay Pharmaceuticals
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a research driven group of companies that constitute the global pharmaceutical business of the Solvay Group. The company seeks to fulfill carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardio-metabolic, influenza vaccines, gastroenterology, and men’s and women’s health. Its 2006 sales were EUR 2.6 billion and it employs approximately 10000 people worldwide. For more information, visit solvaypharmaceuticals.com.
About Solvay
SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 29,000 people in 50 countries. In 2006 its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.4 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. SOLVAY (Euronext: SOLB.BE – Bloomberg: SOLB.BB – Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at www.solvay.com.
About Dishman Pharmaceutical & Chemicals Ltd.
Dishman Pharmaceutical & Chemicals Ltd, is a globally-focused company, involved in the manufacture of API’s (active pharmaceutical ingredients), API intermediates, quaternary compounds and fine chemicals. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, Dishman has exports spanning all continents. For more information, visit www.dishmangroup.com.