Intervet to establish animal vaccine facility in China

Intervet to establish animal vaccine facility in China - the biggest potential market in the Asian region Arnhem, the Netherlands, March 24, 2000. - Akzo Nobel announced today that Intervet China BV, part of Akzo Nobel's veterinary business unit Intervet, has signed a joint venture contract with Shanghai Songjiang Biological Medicines Factory to establish an animal vaccine facility in Shanghai, China. China is by far the biggest potential market in the Asian region, especially for the poultry and swine segments where it ranks already number one in absolute figures. The new company will be located in the Shanghai Songjiang Industrial Zone. It will be built as multi-purpose, GMP-certified production facility, including production buildings, quality control laboratories, a warehouse and various accessory facilities. "Since the acquisition of Hoechst Roussel Vet last year Intervet is the fourth leading veterinary company in the world, focussing on innovative product development and excellent technical support", said Paul K. Brons, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Akzo Nobel's Healthcare business. "This new joint venture will be Intervet's basis for accelerated growth in China and underlines our determination to grow the Pharma business worldwide." Initially the JV company will focus on the production of inactivated poultry vaccines. Later, the product range will expand to live poultry vaccines, tissue culture-based vaccines, and products for swine and other animal species. The company shall cooperate with Chinese Universities and Institutes to develop new products to specifically target local diseases. "The JV company will employ advanced and suitable technology to establish a GMP production facility. The factory will produce first-class products to satisfy the increasing demands for high quality vaccines in China. We expect that the Company will achieve good economic results," said Willem Kleyn, Vice President of Intervet. Note for the editor Intervet, a business unit of Akzo Nobel, is active in the development, production, marketing and sales of animal health products. It is one of the largest animal health companies in the world offering top-quality products to over 100 countries. Intervet's product range includes vaccines, pharmaceutical products and feed additives for poultry, swine, cattle, sheep, horses, companion animals and fish. It has about 4,800 employees throughout the world. Shanghai Songjiang Biological Medicines Factory (SBMF) was established in 1976 as a state-owned enterprise. It is one of 28 Chinese animal vaccine manufacturers designated by the Ministry of Agriculture. SBMF, which employs approximately 200 people, manufactures and distributes live poultry vaccines. SMBF is a subsidiary of Shanghai Wufeng Enterprises (Group) Co. Ltd., also a state-owned company. Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings, and chemicals. Consolidated sales for 1999, excluding Acordis, the former fibers business divested to CVC Capital Partners at the end of 1999, totaled some EUR 12 billion (USD 13 billion, GBP 8 billion). Excluding Acordis, the company employed 68,000 people in 75 countries at the end of 1999. Financial results for the first quarter of 2000 will be announced on April 25, 2000. Internet: http://www.intervet.com http://www.akzonobel.com For more information please contact: Intervet Annette Zimmerman tel. +49 611 962 79 38 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/24/20000324BIT00300/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/24/20000324BIT00300/bit0002.pdf