Patheon transformation continues with adjustments to its global platform

May 9, 2012

Patheon transformation continues with adjustments to its global platform

TORONTO, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Patheon Inc. (TSX: PTI), a leading provider of contract development and manufacturing services to the global pharmaceutical industry, announced today that it continues to implement its corporate transformation strategy across its commercial and pharmaceutical development services ("PDS")  networks to enhance capacity utilization, focus capital investments on its core business, and accelerate operational excellence programs to increase efficiency, meet customer needs, and improve its cost structure.

As part of this process, the Company determined to make certain adjustments over the next 24 to 36 months to the scale and scope of business conducted at its Swindon, U.K., facility.  These adjustments will include winding down or transferring non-cephalosporin commercial production to other facilities and, to the extent possible and commercially appropriate, directing PDS projects that require commercialization activities to other facilities. The Company will be working with each of its affected commercial customers to develop plans to maintain supply chain continuity to the extent possible and commercially appropriate.

On May 8, 2012, the Company concluded that it is required to record an impairment charge ranging from approximately $50 to $60 million for the impairment of long-term assets at the Company's Swindon, U.K. facility, to be recorded during the second quarter 2012. The impairment charge will not result in any current or future cash expenditures.

In addition, on May 9, 2012, the Company announced a plan of termination (the "Plan of Termination") that is expected to result in a workforce reduction of approximately 91 employees across the Company's global PDS and commercial operating segments.  In the U.K., the Company has begun the consultative process with the works councils representing the employees at the Swindon and Milton Park facilities.  Subject to these consultations, the Company expects to complete the Plan of Termination across all affected sites by the end of fiscal 2012.  In connection with the Plan of Termination, the Company expects to incur approximately $5.4 million of expense associated with employee termination benefits, to be recorded during the second quarter 2012.  The Company anticipates that it may further adjust the size of the workforce at the Swindon facility as it continues its transformation process, with a total of approximately 400 jobs at risk of redundancy.

In connection with the impairment charges at its Swindon, U.K. facility and the Plan of Termination, the Company expects that it will incur a total amount ranging from approximately $55 to $65 million in costs (as itemized above), of which $ 5.4 million are expected to result in future cash expenditures, in connection with the Plan of Termination.

About Patheon

Patheon Inc. (TSX: PTI) is a leading global provider of contract development and manufacturing services to the global pharmaceutical industry.  The company provides the highest quality products and services to approximately 300 of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.  Patheon's services range from preclinical development through commercial manufacturing of a full array of dosage forms including parenteral, solid, semi-solid and liquid forms.  The company uses many innovative technologies including single-use disposables, liquid-filled hard and soft capsules and a variety of modified release technologies.  Its comprehensive range of fully integrated Pharmaceutical Development Services includes pre-formulation, formulation, analytical development, clinical manufacturing, scale-up and commercialization.  Patheon can take customers direct to clinic with global clinical packaging and distribution services and Patheon's Quick to Clinic™ programs can accelerate early phase development projects to clinical trials while minimizing the consumption of valuable API.  The company's integrated development and manufacturing network of 10 facilities, eight development centers and one clinical trial packaging facility across North America and Europe, ensures that customer products can be launched with confidence anywhere in the world.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which reflect the Company's expectations regarding its future growth, results of operations, performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects and opportunities. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Wherever possible, words such as "plans," "expects," or "does not expect," "forecasts," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate," "believes," "intends" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "should," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this current report on Form 8-K reflect the Company's current assumptions based upon information currently available to it and based upon what it believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.  The Company's current material assumptions include assumptions related to customer volumes, regulatory compliance, foreign exchange rates and employee severance costs associated with termination.  Forward-looking statements necessarily involve significant known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities in future periods to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to international operations and foreign currency fluctuations; customer demand for the Company's services; regulatory matters affecting manufacturing and pharmaceutical development services; impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings; implementation of the Company's new corporate strategy; the Company's ability to effectively transfer business between facilities; the global economic environment; the Company's exposure to complex production issues; the Company's substantial financial leverage; interest rate risks; potential environmental, health and safety liabilities; credit and customer concentration; competition; rapid technological change; product liability claims; intellectual property; the existence of a significant shareholder; supply arrangements; pension plans; derivative financial instruments; and dependence upon key management, scientific and technical personnel. For additional information regarding risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's business, please see "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2012 and its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, each as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the Canadian Securities Administrators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this current report on Form 8-K, and except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

For further information:
Wendy Wilson
Investor Relations
Tel: (919) 226-3313
Email: [email protected]


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