STUTTGART, Germany, July 10 --

- Celesio CEO Dr Fritz Oesterle: No Pharmacy Chain Planned in Brazil

The supervisory board of Celesio AG has today approved the majority holding of
50.1 per cent in pharmaceutical wholesaler Panpharma. This step into one of the
most attractive and strongest-growing pharmaceutical markets world-wide is part
of Celesio’s growth strategy. Celesio doesn’t plan to setup a
pharmacy chain in Brazil.

Celesio spent about two years thoroughly analysing the Brazilian pharmaceutical
market, the political environment and the corporate landscape. We are happy to
have found in the Panarello family and the Panpharma Corporation the perfect
partner in Brazil. Together we now want to continue the successful development
in Brazil. Panpharma’s capital increase is an essential prerequisite to do
so, Oesterle continued. He also stated that Celesio is not planning to setup a
pharmacy chain in Brazil. If we want to operate pharmacies then we would have
bought a pharmacy chain, added the Celesio CEO, but we don’t want to run a
retail business in Brazil. Our goal is to improve the service levels to
Panpharmas clients, the pharmacies.

The optimum market conditions, excellently trained and highly motivated
employees at Panpharma as well as Celesio’s international wholesale
experience form an excellent base for the growth course of the company.
Alexandre Panarello, CEO of Panpharma, commented: We are looking forward to the
long-term strategic partnership and cooperation with Celesio.

About Celesio Group:

Celesio is a leading international company which covers the spectrum of
pharmaceutical trade and pharmaceutical-related services. The group is active in
14 countries and employs around 38,000 people in its three divisions Patient and
Consumer Solutions, Pharmacy Solutions and Manufacturer Solutions. Over 2,300 of
Celesio’s own pharmacies, as part of Patient and Consumer Solutions, serve
over 550,000 customers in seven countries every day. In its wholesale
activities, which are part of Pharmacy Solutions, around 120 wholesale branches
deliver to over 35,000 pharmacies in twelve European countries - day in, day
out. In the Manufacturer Solutions division, Celesio offers pharmaceutical
manufacturers logistics and distribution solutions and supports them in sales
and marketing.

Press contact:

Rainer Berghausen, Celesio AG, +49-(0)711-5001-549

media@celesio.com

SOURCE: Celesio AG

Press contact: Rainer Berghausen, Celesio AG, +49-(0)711-5001-549,
media@celesio.com