Almac to Build New US American Headquarters

October 23, 2007

Almac is an organization providing integrated research, development and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry. The company is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland with offices in the UK and the USA today announced a £50m investment in a new North American headquarters facility which will be based in southeast Pennsylvania. The move will create at least 262 new jobs within three years in the state and retain 495 existing positions. The new positions include software development and laboratory specialists.

Speaking at the announcement in Pennsylvania, Almac Chairman Sir Allen McClay thanked the Governor of the state for his support. Sir Allen said he was delighted that Pennsylvania is now a ‘major part’ of the continuing Almac success story.

“We are proud to announce the location of our new US facility here in Pennsylvania. Almac is a Northern Ireland company with our global headquarters in County Armagh. We have come a long way and Almac is now a global business, a global family, and our presence here today demonstrates that the economic relationship between our two countries is no longer a one way street and I am delighted that Almac is at the center of this important relationship.

“We have had operations in the states over the last decade and we have always been able to recruit excellent employees who have proven to be an important part of the Almac family. Our positive experience to date in Pennsylvania and especially the availability of a skilled and committed workforce was a major factor in this decision, as was the support we have received from the Governor and the state authorities.

“The future for Almac in the US, in Ireland and across the globe is very exciting and this new facility will underpin our presence and our quality service to our clients in the USA.”

Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell welcomed the move.

“Having a company like Almac choose Pennsylvania as the home of its North American headquarters confirms our status as a global leader in the biosciences,” Governor Rendell said. “We have some of the most dynamic companies and talented researchers working in Pennsylvania. Today’s announcement means even more of these dedicated people will be working here to improve the lives of people around the world.

“The aggressive incentives package we provided to the company supports its current headquarters project in Pennsylvania while ensuring its future expansion here. Our easy access to capital investment and our business-friendly tax structure helps businesses like Almac compete successfully in the global marketplace while also strengthening the commonwealth’s economy.”

Almac’s expansion project will be competed in several phases. Initially, the company will construct a 240,000-square-foot building in Lower Salford Township and combine its two Pennsylvania divisions located in Audubon, Montgomery County, and Yardley, Bucks County. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008 with the facility expected to be fully operationally in 2010.

Almac worked with the Montgomery County IDC and local officials to secure a $9.03 million funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including: a $4.5 million grant through the Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program to be disbursed over 10 years; a $2 million Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority loan; a $1.25 million grant through the Infrastructure Development Program; a $400,000 Opportunity Grant; $100,000 in Customized Job Training funds; and $786,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits.

Almac worked closely with the Governor’s Action Team, which consists of economic development professionals who serve as a single point-of-contact for businesses considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.

ENDS

Notes

Headquartered in Northern Ireland, Almac is a $750 million company provides its services to more than 600 companies worldwide, including all of the market leaders. It has five business divisions, two of which are located in southeast Pennsylvania. The company has 2,000 employees throughout the U.S. and Europe. European operations are headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland with additional operations in Edinburgh.

Almac Group provides a broad range of services across drug discovery, diagnostics, pharmaceutical research and development, manufacture of API, clinical trials and drug product manufacture.

For further information on this release contact:

Brendan Mulgrew / Jonathan King

Stakeholder Communications

T: 02890 339949 / 07767 393252

E: [email protected]

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