Recordati S.p.A Acquires Herbacos-Bofarma In The Czech Republic

MILAN, ITALY--(Marketwire - January 19, 2009) -

Milan, 19 January 2009 - Recordati announces its acquisition of Herbacos-Bofarma, a Czech pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Pardubice. The price paid of around EUR 19 million was funded from existing liquidity.

Herbacos-Bofarma is a well known pharmaceutical company operating in the Czech and Slovak markets with a significant portfolio of medicines in various therapeutic classes comprised mainly of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and dermatological products. Individual brands have a strong position in particular market segments. Herbacos-Bofarma employs 100 personnel, of which a sales and marketing network of 35 employees which has developed very good credentials with both pharmacists and physicians. The company is very solid financially. Sales have increased consistently over recent years and in 2008 are around EUR 12 million. The company’s EBITDA margin is in line with that of the group.

“The acquisition of Herbacos-Bofarma represents a further step in our strategy of building a direct presence in Central and Eastern Europe”, declared Giovanni Recordati, Chairman and CEO. “The economies of the Czech Republic and Slovakia are among the most dynamic in this area and the relative pharmaceutical markets are among the most evolved. Herbacos-Bofarma, with a market share of around 2% in volumes, is well positioned to act as a platform for launching the new products in our pipeline in the Czech and Slovak markets.”

Recordati, established in 1926, is a European pharmaceutical group, listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (Reuters RECI.MI, Bloomberg REC IM, ISIN IT 0003828271),with a total staff of over 2,400, dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals. It has headquarters in Milan, Italy, operations in the main European countries, and a growing presence in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe. A European field force of over 1,300 medical representatives promotes a wide range of innovative pharmaceuticals, both proprietary and under license, in a number of therapeutic areas including a specialized business dedicated to treatments for rare diseases. Recordati’s current and growing coverage of the European pharmaceutical market makes it a partner of choice for new product licenses from companies which do not have European marketing organizations. Recordati is committed to the research of new drug entities within the cardiovascular and urogenital therapeutic areas in which its research team has proven scientific competence and a track record of discovery and development of original drugs, the most recent of which, lercanidipine, a latest generation calcium channel blocker for the treatment of hypertension, is the company’s leading product. Consolidated revenue for 2007 was EUR 628.4 million, operating income was EUR 131.5 million and net income was EUR 84.9 million.

For further information:

Recordati website: www.recordati.com

Investor Relations

Marianne Tatschke

(39)0248787393

e-mail: inver@recordati.it

Media Relations

Claudio Rossetti (Echo Comunicazione d’Impresa)

(39)02 62694736

e-mail: crossetti@echocom.it

Statements contained in this release, other than historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements are based on currently available information, on current best estimates, and on assumptions believed to be reasonable. This information, these estimates and assumptions may prove to be incomplete or erroneous, and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, beyond the Company’s control. Hence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All mentions and descriptions of Recordati products are intended solely as information on the general nature of the company’s activities and are not intended to indicate the advisability of administering any product in any particular instance.

RECORDATI INDUSTRIA CHIMICA E FARMACEUTICA S.p.A.

VIA M. CIVITALI, 1 - 20148 MILANO, ITALY - TEL (39) 02 48787.1 - FAX (39) 02 40073747

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