Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 1.2 of Form CO available to the public in order to increase transparency. This information has been prepared by the notifying parties under their sole responsibility, and its content in no way prejudges the view the Commission may take of the planned operation. Nor can the Commission be held responsible for any incorrect or misleading information contained therein.

COMP/M.4577 - BLACKSTONE/ CARDINAL HEALTH PTS

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

On 25 January 2007, funds and affiliates of The Blackstone Group (ìBlackstoneî) agreed to acquire sole control over the Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services (ìPTSî) division of Cardinal Health, Inc. (ìCardinal Healthî).

Blackstone is a private merchant-banking firm based in the United States, active mainly in financial advisory services, private equity investing and property investment.

Cardinal Healthís PTS division provides a broad range of technologies and services to the pharmaceutical, life sciences and consumer health industries. The division provides proprietary drug delivery technologies, advanced aseptic blow/fill/seal technology, drug lyophilization, and outsourced manufacturing for nearly all oral dosage forms and sterile dose forms. PTS also provides drug discovery, development and analytical science services and pharmaceutical packaging services, folding cartons, inserts and labels.