Ares Life Sciences Signs an Agreement to Acquire 45.86% Stake in Stallergenes, S.A. From Wendel; Transaction to Close in the Coming Days

Geneva, November 10, 2010: Ares Life Sciences, an investment firm established by the Bertarelli family to invest in the healthcare industry, announces that, it has today signed an agreement to acquire Wendel’s equity interest in Stallergenes, representing 45.86% of the share capital and voting rights of Stallergenes, at a price of €59.00 per share. This signature follows the positive advice of Stallergenes’ Works Council.

The closing of the transaction will occur early next week.

Following the closing Ares Life Sciences will file a mandatory takeover offer for the remaining outstanding shares of Stallergenes, at the same price of €59.00 per share in cash. Ares Life Sciences does not plan to effect a squeeze out or delisting of the company following this offer.

Moelis & Company and Centerview Partners are acting as lead financial advisors and Deutsche Bank as financial advisor to Ares Life Sciences, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is legal advisor.

Further information

About Ares Life Sciences

Ares Life Sciences is a healthcare-focused investment firm, whose financial backer is the Bertarelli family. Its strategy is to focus on key life sciences sectors, mainly: pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, medical diagnostics, and medical technology. Ares Life Sciences has a long-term view on investments and a core element of its investment strategy is to make available to its portfolio companies the collective experience and network of its team. Ares Life Sciences’ portfolio currently includes investments in Euromedic, Esaote, Santhera and Broncus Technologies.

About Wendel

Wendel is one of Europe's leading listed investment firms. The Group invests in France and abroad, in companies that are leaders in their industry: Bureau Veritas, Legrand, Saint- Gobain, Materis, Deutsch, Stallergenes, Oranje-Nassau and Stahl. Wendel plays an active role as an industry shareholder. It implements long-term development strategies, which 2 involve boosting growth and profitability of companies so as to enhance their leading market positions. Wendel’s consolidated 2009 sales totalled €4.9 billion. Wendel is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris. Standard & Poor’s rating: Long term BB-, stable outlook - Short term B since July 19, 2010.

About Stallergenes

Stallergenes is a European biopharmaceutical laboratory specialising in treatments by immunotherapy for the prevention and treatment of allergy-related respiratory conditions, such as rhino conjunctivitis, rhinitis and allergic asthma. A pioneer and a leader in immunotherapy treatments by sublingual administration, Stallergenes dedicated more than 20% (gross) of its sales in 2009 to its Research and Development activities, which are primarily directed at developing a new therapeutic range enabling the provision of immunotherapy treatments by sublingual tablets. Stallergenes achieved 2009 sales of €193 million, with over 500,000 patients treated with Stallergenes products.

For more information, please contact

Christophe Lamps - Dynamics Group Rue des Caroubiers 21, Geneva, Switzerland Tel:+41 22 308 62 20 Mob: +41 79 476 26 87 Fax: +41 22 308 62 36 E-mail: cla@dynamicsgroup.ch

Brunswick - Agnes Catineau/Marie-Laurence Bouchon Tel: +33 1 53 96 83 83

Jon Coles Tel: +44 20 7396 5312

Paco Latorre - Ares Life Sciences Avenue Guiseppe Motta 31-33, CH- 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland Tel: +41 79 5716207 E-mail: media@areslifesciences.com