PRESS RELEASE

Florence, December 12, 2011

MENARINI GROUP: COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH WUHAN INDUSTRIAL PARK IN CHINA

Rome, December 2011 - Signing of framework for cooperation agreement between Menarini Group and Wuhan Eastlake Hi-tech Development Zone Committee, 3rd industrial park at national level in China, located in Wuhan in the interior region of Hubei.

The Menarini Group, thanks to its solid tradition of dynamic and professional excellence, was chosen by the authorities of Wuhan as one of three pharmaceutical companies to be given the opportunity to invest in the region of Hubei.

The future intentions of the agreement are:

• the development at the Wuhan Eastlake technological-industrial park of a Menarini manufacturing site and an innovation center dedicated to the research and development of new drugs;
• the commitment on behalf of the Menarini Group to establish its Chinese headquarters in Wuhan (Hubei region);
• the offering of support from the Eastlake technology park to Menarini for logistic matters and government approvals.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr. Andrea Perugini, Deputy Director General/Principal Director for the Countries of Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Umberto Vattani, President of “Sviluppo Italia Sicilia,” Mr. Li Hong Zhong , Secretary General of the Hubei Communist Party of China Committee, Mr. Ding Wei, Ambassador of the Republic of China in Italy, Mr. Jia Yao Bin, Director of Wuhan Eastlake Hi-tech Development Zone Committee and executive vice mayor candidate of Wuhan, Dr. Attilio Sebastio, Administrative Director and Board Member of BC/Menarini, Mr. Richard Wang, Country Manager of BC/Menarini in China, and Mr. Uwe Kronenberg, Area Manager of BC/Menarini Asia.

Domenico Simone, Menarini Group General Manager: "China is certainly a country with great potential and a rapidly evolving economy. This agreement with a proactive country such as China is part of our strategy of expansion into the Asian markets where we have consolidated our presence with the acquisition of the Invida Group and where we expect to establish our first production site and begin research and development projects."