Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals and Yoshindo Sign
a Joint Venture Agreement under a Strategic Alliance
 
TOKYO, December 25, 2012 - Yoshindo Inc. (President, Kenzo Shimomura; Headquarters, Toyama City, Toyama, Japan; hereinafter “Yoshindo”) and Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (President, Tomoyasu Toyoda; Headquarters, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; hereinafter “Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals”)  a 100%-owned subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc.  announce today that the two companies signed today an agreement to establish a joint venture by spin-off of the infusion and dialysis BUs of Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals aiming for further growth in the infusion and dialysis areas and contribution to the therapies in these areas.

1. Background and purpose of the joint venture
 Yoshindo has provided high quality generics under a R&D, manufacturing and marketing system that comprehensively covers from drug substances through final products and strengthened the strategy to widen its business scope to be an “indispensable drug manufacturer”.
 Pharmaceutical business of the Ajinomoto Group started with amino acids for medical use. Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals was inaugurated in 2010 and has strengthened its business as a “specialty pharmaceutical company” focused on gastrointestinal area.

 Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals has worked on a reform of its infusion and dialysis business and studied on feasibility of a collaborative partnership for further growth in these areas with Yoshindo. The two companies have come to share the thoughts that maximum use of the assets that Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals owns in the infusion and dialysis sectors utilizing the streamlined business operation system of Yoshindo will develop the infusion and dialysis business and increase the corporate values of both companies and concluded this joint venture agreement.
 Yoshindo comments that the addition of the infusion and dialysis products to the existing portfolio will strengthen its commitment to meet the needs in healthcare to be an “indispensable drug manufacturer”. Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals will further strengthen its focus on the gastrointestinal area to be a “specialty pharmaceutical company”. The two companies expect that the joint venture agreement will be the starting point for pursuing a wide range of synergies and business growth of both companies.

2. Details of the agreement
(1) Date of signature: December 25, 2012
(2) Name of the joint venture: AY Pharma Co., Ltd. (tentative name)
(3) Establishment: July 1, 2013 (scheduled)
(4) Capital: 100 million yen
(5) Capitalization ratio: Yoshindo 51%, Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals 49%
(6) Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo
(7) Representative: President Fumimasa Sato
(current Senior Vice President of Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.)
(8) Members of the board: 4 persons (2 from Yoshindo, 2 from Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals)
(9) Employees: About 700 people
(10) Business area: Manufacture and R&D of infusion and dialysis pharmaceutical products

 Sales in Japan are undertaken by Yoshindo, and sales outside Japan are undertaken by Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals.

3. Basic strategies of the joint venture
 Increase profitability and stable growth of the business and contribute to the therapies in the infusion and dialysis areas under the following basic strategies:
 (1)Implement the management to make maximum use of the business assets of Ajinomoto
   Pharmaceuticals utilizing the streamlined operation system of Yoshindo
 (2)Strengthen the marketing ability by reinforcing Yoshindo’s sales and marketing functions
 (3)Launch new products and increase market share through aggressive investments on facilities and
   R&D.
 Yoshindo and Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals will strive to increase corporate values of both companies through the above activities.

Reference data
‹Outline of Yoshindo Inc.›
Representative: President Kenzo Shimomura
Place of business: 3697-8 Haginoshima, Fuchu-machi, Toyama City, Toyama
Established: 1962 (founded in 1929)
Sales: 15.3 billion yen (FY 2011)
Employees: About 500 people
Business area: R&D, manufacture and marketing of drug substances and prescription medicines

‹Outline of Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.›
Representative: President Tomoyasu Toyoda
Place of business: 2-1-1 Irifune, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Established: April 1, 2010
Sales: 77.9 billion yen (FY 2011, consolidated pharmaceutical segment’s sales of Ajinomoto Co., Inc.)
Employees: About 2000 people
Business area: R&D, manufacture and marketing of prescription medicines, marketing of medical foods

For more information, please contact:
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Public Communications Department; pr_info@ajinomoto.com

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