RNS Number:1665N
Alliance UniChem PLC
06 June 2005


                                                                     4 June 2005

                   

                     Alliance UniChem to enter a partnership
                   with Associacao Nacional das Farmacias,
                 Portugal's national association of pharmacies



Alliance UniChem Plc, a leading European healthcare group, announces that it has
entered into an agreement to form a strategic partnership with Portugal's
national association of pharmacies ("Associacao Nacional das Farmacias",
"ANF"). This partnership will bring together Alliance UniChem's expertise and
presence in pharmaceutical wholesaling in Portugal, including its European
supplier relationships, with ANF's exclusive position in representing and
supporting Portuguese pharmacies.

Under the terms of the agreement, ANF, through its subsidiary
Farmindustria-Investimentos Participacoes e Gastao S.A, will take a 49 per cent
stake in Alliance UniChem's Portuguese wholesale business, Alliance UniChem
Farmaceutica S.A. ("AU Farma"). A further two per cent stake in the business
will be acquired by Jose De Mello Participacoes II SGPS S.A., an independent
investment company with interests in the Portuguese healthcare industry.

As part of the agreement Alliance UniChem and ANF will invest an additional Euro15
million each to enable AU Farma to take full advantage of the commercial
opportunities this partnership will offer.

Under the terms of the transaction, ANF will pay Euro49.0 million for its 49 per
cent stake in the business and Jose De Mello Participacoes II SGPS S.A. will pay
Euro2.0 million for its two per cent stake. The transaction is expected to be
completed at the end June 2005. Following completion Alliance UniChem will
account for AU Farma as an associate business.

Commenting on the transaction, Ian Meakins, Chief Executive of Alliance UniChem,
said:

"This transaction represents the closest possible unity between AU Farma as a
wholesaler and its community pharmacy customers. ANF is exceptionally placed in
that it is the exclusive professional representative body for the pharmacy
community in Portugal and handles administration of the reimbursement system for
pharmacies within the Portuguese market."

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Enquiries:

Deborah Walter / Laura Hickman
Gavin Anderson & Company                                    +44 (0) 20 7554 1400

Gerald Gradwell
Alliance UniChem Plc                                        +44 (0) 1932 870 550


Editor's Notes:

Alliance UniChem is a leading healthcare distribution group focused on the major
commitment to help improve the quality of health in all the communities it
serves. The Group's core businesses are pharmaceutical wholesaling and retail
pharmacy. Alliance UniChem is a European leader with a network of more than
33,000 employees delivering services in 12 countries.

Associacao Nacional das Farmacias: The ANF was formed in 1975 and is the
exclusive representative body of pharmacies in Portugal. It lists amongst its
objectives the development of the pharmacy profession and provision of
high-quality pharmacy services to patients. In addition to administering the
reimbursement system for pharmacies, the ANF offers training courses for
pharmacists' continuing professional development, as well as commercial services
for the pharmacy profession and information for patients.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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