Celesio expands pharmacy network in the United Kingdom

25 april 2007 Celesio subsidiary Lloydspharmacy acquires 63 pharmacies Stuttgart/Coventry, 25 April 2007. Celesio AG's British subsidiary, Lloydspharmacy, today announced the acquisition of 63 pharmacies in the United Kingdom. Lloydspharmacy recently acquired 29 pharmacies from Manichem based in the southern Home Counties. A further 34 pharmacies are to be acquired from the Independent Pharmacy Care Centres (IPCC) chain. IPCC operates pharmacies in the Midlands and the North of England such as in Birmingham, Sheffield and Manchester. The pharmacies are a good strategic fit for the Lloydspharmacy portfolio as they focus strongly on prescriptions and services. Furthermore, they are located in areas of the United Kingdom where Lloydspharmacy is still underrepresented. With over 1,600 pharmacies, Lloydspharmacy is the largest community pharmacy chain. Stefan Meister, responsible for the pharmacy business within the Celesio Management Board, says that the acquisition is a further, consistent step in Celesio's strategy, "to use every sensible opportunity to expand our business". About Celesio Group: In 2006 Celesio generated 21.6 billion euros revenue. More than 36,000 people work for the company. Celesio operates in 16 countries. The three business divisions Wholesale, Pharmacies and Solutions cover the whole spectrum of pharmaceutical distribution and services. In Wholesale 135 branches bring medicines to pharmacies about 100,000 times every day. About 2,100 pharmacies serve each day more than 500,000 customers. The Solutions division offers pharmaceutical manufacturers logistics and transportation services und supports them with sales and marketing. Press contact: Rainer Berghausen, Celesio AG, +49 (0)711.5001-549 rainer.berghausen@celesio.com --- End of Message --- Celesio AG Neckartalstrasse 155 Stuttgart Germany WKN: CLS100; ISIN: DE000CLS1001; Index: CDAX, MDAX, Prime All Share, CLASSIC All Share, HDAX, MIDCAP; Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Amtlicher Markt in Bayerische Börse München, Amtlicher Markt in Börse Düsseldorf, Amtlicher Markt in Börse Stuttgart, Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg, Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover, Amtlicher Markt in Börse Berlin Bremen;