AGM Chairman's Statement

UNITED DRUG PLC

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Dublin, London, 7 February 2012: United Drug plc (the 'Group') this morning issued an Interim Management Statement and the following is a summary of that Statement.

Trading throughout the Group since the start of the new financial year has been good. Group revenues and profits for the quarter to 31 December 2011 are ahead of the first quarter of last year. Much of this development has come in our international operations with the businesses outside of Ireland contributing almost 70% of group profits in the quarter. In addition, cash generation for the period was good and ahead of our forecasts.

Based on the good trading performance for the year to date, the outlook for the remainder of the year, and stability in current exchange rates, the Group expects adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year to 30 September 2012 to be between 4% and 8% ahead of last year.

The Group also expects to deliver another strong cash flow performance in the year. With relatively modest debt levels and strong cash flows the Group is well positioned to support its future growth objectives both organically and through additional acquisitions.

ENDS

For reference:

Liam FitzGerald Pauline McAlester

Barry McGrane

United Drug plc Murray Consultants

Tel: +353-1-4632300 Tel: +353-1-4980300

About United Drug plc

Listed on the Stock Exchanges in London and Dublin, United Drug is a leading international provider of services to healthcare manufacturers and pharmaceutical retailers, with operations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the USA. 

The Company operates across three divisions, Healthcare Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing & Medical, and Packaging & Specialty.

In Healthcare Supply Chain, United Drug is the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in the island of Ireland. It is also the market leader in contract distribution outsourcing (pre-wholesaling) in Ireland and has achieved the No. 1 position in the UK through its joint venture business UniDrug Distribution Group (UDG). The Company provides specials medicines manufacturing and distribution services in the UK. Through its medical & scientific operations, United Drug provides sales & marketing and technical service solutions, including contract distribution services to a wide range of medical & scientific equipment & consumable manufacturers, with a market leading position in Ireland and an emerging presence in the UK.

In the Sales, Marketing & Medical division United Drug is the leading provider of contract sales outsourcing services to pharmaceutical manufacturers in the UK and Ireland and has a growing presence in the US market. United Drug also provides related marketing services to pharmaceutical manufacturers in each of these markets.

In the Packaging & Specialty division United Drug is a leading international provider of pharmaceutical contract packaging services with facilities in the US, UK, Dutch and Belgian markets. The Company also provides speciality distribution and homecare services in the UK and Ireland.

For more information go to www.united-drug.com.