CSL Completes Acquisition of Aventis Behring to create ZLB Behring

CSL Completes Acquisition of Aventis Behring to create ZLB Behring Melbourne, Australia, (April 1, 2004): CSL Limited today announced the completion on March 31, 2004 of its acquisition of global plasma therapeutics business, Aventis Behring from Aventis SA. CSL will combine Aventis Behring with ZLB Bioplasma to create a new business, ZLB Behring. With ZLB Behring and CSL Bioplasma, CSL is now positioned as a world leader in plasma therapeutics. CSL Managing Director, Dr Brian McNamee said "Today´s plasma products industry demands a broad portfolio of quality products, an innovative R&D pipeline, an efficient high yield production operation, the ability to balance market demands and outputs and a global marketing effort". "Within the CSL Group, ZLB Behring is well positioned to realize all of these key attributes", said Dr McNamee. Peter Turner, currently head of ZLB Bioplasma, will be President of ZLB Behring which will be headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA. CSL Limited will remain headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Mr Turner said "The combination o ZLB Bioplasma´s IVIG production capabilities with Aventis Behring´s coagulation products, haemophilia expertise and specialty products coupled with global marketing reach continues to represent a compelling opportunity". Dr. McNamee said "Our integration planning during the pre-closing period has continued to give us confidence that the acquisition will deliver enhanced economic returns. This is consistent with the information provided during our recent fundraising for the acquisition". "We have a clear plan for integration and talented people in the combined business to make the changes required to achieve strong leadership in a competitive market", said Dr McNamee. In order to provide additional time to finalise the financials of the combined entity for the first time, the company´s full year result announcement has been changed from 18 August to 26 August 2004. For further information: Australia Media Tim Duncan Hintons and Associates Tel: +61 3 9600 1979 US Media Kim Cayz ZLB Behring Tel: +1 610 878 4822 e-mail: kim.cayz@aventis.com Europe Media Gina Duscher ZLB Behring Tel: +49 6421 39 4222 e-mail: gina.duscher@aventis.com US Trade Media Rum Ekhtiar / Jill Hoffman FischerHealth, A Porter Novelli Company Tel: +1 310 577 7870 e-mail: rum@fischerhealth.com / jhoffman@fischerhealth.com Investors Mark Dehring CSL Investor Relations Manager Tel: +61 3 9389 2818 e-mail: mark.dehring@csl.com.au ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/04/01/20040401BIT00430/wkr0001.pdf