Group Financing Completed

UNITED DRUG PLC

GROUP FINANCING COMPLETED

Dublin, London, 8 September 2010: United Drug plc ("United Drug", "UD" or "the Group"), a leading international provider of services to healthcare manufacturers and pharmaceutical retailers today announces that it has completed a financing exercise in relation to its debt facilities. This financing combines a €135 million syndicated bank facility with a new $130 million Private Placement note issue.

The syndicated bank facility has a four year term and replaces existing bi-lateral arrangements. The Group currently has $102 million of Private Placement notes in issue. The new $130 million issue which was significantly oversubscribed was issued in 2 tranches with $65 million maturing in 7 years and $65 million maturing in 10 years.

Barry McGrane, Group Finance Director said:

"We are pleased to have completed this significant financing exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to lengthen our debt maturities and provide additional facilities to the Group. The financing will increase our funding costs but provides substantial additional capacity to the Group to support its future development".

The Group will issue results for the year to 30 September 2010 on 17 November 2010.

ENDS. Wednesday, 8 September 2010

For reference:

Barry McGrane Pauline McAlester

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, Sweden and the USA. 

The Company operates across three divisions, Healthcare Supply Chain, Packaging & Speciality Services, and Contract Sales & Marketing Services.

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 Contract Sales & Marketing Services 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 & Speciality 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.ie