GENEVA, Switzerland, September 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On 22nd
September 2006, Mr Ernesto Bertarelli, of Gland, notified Serono S.A.
(virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA) that on 21st September 2006 he and Mrs
Maria-Iris Bertarelli, of Gingins, and Mrs Donata Bertarelli Spath, of
Cheserex, with whom he is linked through a shareholder syndicate, entered
into an agreement to sell the Serono S.A. shares they hold directly and
indirectly through the company, Bertarelli Biotech S.A., Cheserex, thereby
reducing their holding in Serono S.A. to less than five per cent of the
voting rights in this company. The share sale contract is accompanied by
the standard suspensive terms and conditions of this type of transaction
including, in particular, obtaining authorisation from the authorities
regarding competition. It will be executed on 3rd January 2007 at the
earliest.
    Background material
    For free B-roll, video and other content for Serono and its products,
please visit the Serono Media Center http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Serono. You can
download print-quality images and receive broadcast-standard video
digitally or by tape from this site. Registration and video is free to the
media.
    Forward-looking statements
    Some of the statements in this press release are forward looking. Such
statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or
achievements of Serono S.A. and affiliates to be materially different from
those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on Serono's current expectations and
assumptions, which may be affected by a number of factors, including those
discussed in this press release and more fully described in Serono's Annual
Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
on February 28, 2006. These factors include any failure or delay in
Serono's ability to develop new products, any failure to receive
anticipated regulatory approvals, any problems in commercializing current
products as a result of competition or other factors, our ability to obtain
reimbursement coverage for our products, the outcome of any government
investigations and litigation. Serono is providing this information as of
the date of this press release, and has no responsibility to update the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect
events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
    About Serono
    Serono is a global biotechnology leader. The Company has eight
biotechnology products, Rebif(R), Gonal-f(R), Luveris(R), Ovidrel(R)
/Ovitrelle(R), Serostim(R), Saizen(R), Zorbtive(TM) and Raptiva(R). In
addition to being the world leader in reproductive health, Serono has
strong market positions in neurology, metabolism and growth and has
recently entered the psoriasis area. The Company's research programs are
focused on growing these businesses and on establishing new therapeutic
areas, including oncology and autoimmune diseases.
    In 2005, Serono, whose products are sold in over 90 countries, achieved
worldwide revenues of US$2,586.4 million. Reported net loss in 2005 was
US$106.1 million, reflecting a charge of US$725 million taken relating to
the settlement of the US Attorney's Office investigation of Serostim.
Excluding this charge as well as other non-recurring items, adjusted net
income grew 28.4% to US$565.3 million in 2005. Bearer shares of Serono
S.A., the holding company, are traded on the virt-x (SEO) and its American
Depositary Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (SRA).
    Reuters: SEO.VX / SRA.N
    Bloomberg: SEO VX / SRA US
    http://www.serono.com
    http://www.seronousa.com

Link to this page: