Vitrolife and Pharmadule sign agreement on new MSEK 50 modular plant

VITROLIFE AND PHARMADULE SIGN AGREEMENT ON NEW MSEK 50 MODULAR PLANT Swedish biotech company Vitrolife AB and Pharmadule AB have signed an agreement where Pharmadule will supply Vitrolife with a modular plant for production of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) media. The plant will be located in Denver, Colorado, however it will be designed and built in Sweden. Vitrolife, one of the world's leading suppliers of culture media for IVF, has contracted Pharmadule AB, for the supply of a turnkey state-of-the-art plant for sterile pharmaceuticals. The value of this plant is approximately MSEK 50. The plant is scheduled to be in use early 2002. - This represents a significant milestone in our manufacturing strategy aimed to eliminate our manufacturing bottle neck and to increase our U.S. and Asia/Pacific market shares, said Dr. Peter Svalander, CEO of Vitrolife. The plant will be located in Denver, Colorado, USA, adjacent to Vitrolife's R&D Center. The plant will be designed and built in Sweden by Pharmadule in compliance with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements. All process equipment will be installed, tested and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified in Sweden prior to shipment. This ensures a fast track and trouble-free start up at Vitrolife's site in Denver. - The agreement with Vitrolife represents another recognition of the advanced technology developed by Pharmadule and enhances its leadership in building hi-tech modular plants and laboratories for the Pharmaceutical & Biotech Industries, said Tomas Wängberg, CEO of Pharmadule. This is the fourth plant for sterile production, aimed for the US market within 18 months and it further strengthens our position in this market. Vitrolife will primarily supply the American and the Asia/Pacific market from its Denver based plant. Asia/Pacific is the fastest growing market for IVF products and Vitrolife is currently building up its presence in this market through strategic alliances. Increased market presence together with our new state-of-the-art plant will make Vitrolife the leading supplier of IVF media in the region. For further information, please contact Vitrolife: Pharmadule: Peter Svalander, CEO, Tomas Wängberg, CEO, Vitrolife Pharmadule + 46 31 721 8001 or + 46 708 + 46 512 32444 or + 46 705 22 80 01 942444 e-mail: e-mail: psvalander@vitrolife.com tomas.wangberg@pharmadule.se Urban Paulsson, Information Hans Sundin, General Manager, Director BA Pharma + 46 31 721 8015 or + 46 70 + 46 8 588 99 887 + 46 706 671 84 84 909804 e-mail: e-mail: upaulsson@vitrolife.com hans.sundin@pharmadule.se Vitrolife is a leading Swedish biotech company within the area of development, production, and sales of complex solutions for assisted reproduction, cell therapy and organ transplantation. Vitrolife's products are marketed in more than 65 countries and the company is a world leader in the area of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). www.vitrolife.com Introduction, Pharmadule/Emtunga In the spring of 2000 Industrial Development & Investment (IDI) acquired a majority in Pharmadule AB, with the intention to merge with Emtunga International AB. Since 1998 IDI is the major owner of Emtunga International AB, which has been the manufacturer of modules to Pharmadule since 1986. The two companies operate as one organization since September 2000 and the joint forces will strengthen and integrate their activities worldwide. The joint company Pharmadule/Emtunga is the leading supplier of modular facilities to the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Offshore and Telecom Industries. Today, 35 plants have been delivered for Pharmaceutical and Biotech applications, more than 100 projects to the Oil & Gas Industry and several thousand base stations for the mobile telecom networks worldwide. President and CEO for both companies is Mr. Tomas Wängberg who also will continue in the same position after the formal merger. The new company is organized in three business areas: BA Pharma in Nacka - Stockholm and Emtunga, Sweden BA Oil and Gas in Emtunga and Gothenburg, Sweden BA Technical in Emtunga, Sweden The company has manufacturing plants in Emtunga and Gothenburg - sales & rep. offices in Seattle and Houston, US - Shanghai, China - Moscow, Russia- Tokyo, Japan - Stavanger, Norway. Key figures for Pharmadule/Emtunga Number of employees in Nacka, Emtunga and Gothenburg: 300 Turnover in year 2000 (forecast for the consolidated company): 500 MSEK Consult the homepages: www.pharmadule.com for information concerning BA Pharma www.emtunga.se for information concerning BA Oil and Gas and BA Telecom www.idiab.se for information concerning IDI ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/08/20010108BIT00290/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/08/20010108BIT00290/bit0002.pdf