Fresenius Kabi acquires leading European manufacturer of antibiotic agents and strengthens its position in the area of intravenously administered generic drugs

Fresenius Kabi, a subsidiary of Fresenius SE, has reached an agreement to acquire the Italian company Ribbon S.r.L. Ribbon is a leading European manufacturer of the antibiotic agent classes cephalosporines and penicillines with two state-of-the-art production facilities in northern Italy.

In the field of intravenously administered drugs (I.V. drugs) Fresenius Kabi offers, among others, a comprehensive range of products with the antibiotic agents cephalosporines and penicillines. With the acquisition of Ribbon, Fresenius Kabi becomes one of the few I.V. drug suppliers globally who have know-how and manufacturing expertise along the entire pharmaceutical value chain. The acquisition is a further step in the company's generic I.V. drug growth plan and significantly strengthens Fresenius Kabi's market position. At the same time, the company is ensuring its own supply of high-quality active agents for its antibiotic products.

Dr. Ulf M. Schneider, Chairman of the Management Board of Fresenius SE: "With the acquisition of Sanderson in Chile announced last week and today's acquisition of Ribbon we continue our Fresenius Kabi growth strategy. Sanderson provides an excellent platform for further expansion in Latin America. The Ribbon acquisition strengthens our position in the intravenously administered drug market and is an important step towards achieving quality and cost leadership in this product segment."

Ribbon is headquartered in Milan and has about 130 associates. The company is privately-held and expects sales of approximately € 54 million in 2007.

The transaction is expected to close in January 2008.