Actavis Announces Intention to Adopt "Allergan" Corporate Name

DUBLIN, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Actavis plc (NYSE: ACT) today announced that it will adopt a new corporate name – Allergan – following the anticipated successful completion of the acquisition of Allergan, Inc. The Company said that it intends to use the Allergan name as its corporate name and for its global branded pharmaceutical portfolio, and will retain the Actavis name for select geographic regions and product portfolios. The change in corporate name would be subject to approval by Actavis' shareholders at its Annual General Meeting later this year. 

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"The pending combination of Actavis and Allergan will create a dynamic new breed of company – a leader in Growth Pharma. By adopting the Allergan name for the corporation we will ensure that our corporate identity reflects the dramatic evolution of our company within the pharmaceutical industry," said Brent Saunders, CEO and President of Actavis. "For more than 65 years, the Allergan name has represented innovation in branded pharmaceuticals, a commitment to bringing the best medicine to life and a strong partnership with physicians. The Actavis name has represented our global commitment to leadership in generic, branded generic and OTC pharmaceuticals and to increased access to more affordable prescription medicine for consumers around the world. Together, our combined company will be equally focused on developing new medicines that meet unmet medical needs in critical therapeutic categories, as well as increasing global access to high quality, affordable medicines. 

"Using the Allergan name for our combined brand product portfolios recognizes this powerful heritage. We are convinced that the Allergan name will provide an umbrella of exceptional brand equity for an expanded and even more relevant global brand pharmaceutical portfolio. And it will communicate unequivocally what we stand for in the brand pharmaceutical space.

"Equally as important is our commitment to retain the Actavis name in select geographic regions and for select product portfolios. When we adopted Actavis in 2013, it defined the transformation of our company into a global leader, focused on action, vision and strength. A fundamental component of our leadership in Growth Pharma is our generic DNA, a commitment to leadership in access to medicines, as well as a commitment to cost effective production and distribution of pharmaceuticals of the highest quality. Retaining the Actavis name reflects this heritage, as well as the considerable equity of the Actavis name with our customers in key markets around the world. 

"Corporate names, however, represent more than heritage. They speak to the future strategic vision of an organization. Uniting under the Allergan corporate umbrella, while retaining the Allergan and Actavis identities for the two respective businesses, defines to customers, competitors, employees and investors that this combination of two powerful, successful and growing companies is transformational, and will reflect our position as the most dynamic growth pharmaceutical company in global healthcare," Saunders added. "Although we will have distinct identities to our various customers and in select geographies, we will operate the new Allergan as one company with one culture, led by an industry-leading unified senior management team."

Actavis will ask shareholders to approve its intention to adopt the Allergan name at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders later this year. Pending shareholder approval, and formal adoption of the new corporate naming structure, Actavis will continue to operate under its current name and trade on the New York Stock Exchange under its present symbol – ACT.

About Actavis
Actavis Plc (NYSE: ACT), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a unique specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing high quality affordable generic and innovative branded pharmaceutical products for patients around the world. 

Actavis markets a broad portfolio of branded and generic pharmaceuticals and develops innovative medicines for patients suffering from diseases principally in the central nervous system, gastroenterology, women's health, urology, cardiovascular, respiratory and anti-infective therapeutic categories.  The Company is an industry leader in product research and development, with one of the broadest brand development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry, and a leading position in the submission of generic product applications.  Actavis has commercial operations in more than 60 countries and operates more than 30 manufacturing and distribution facilities around the world.

For more information, visit Actavis' website at www.actavis.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this communication that refer to Actavis' estimated or anticipated future results, including estimated synergies, or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Actavis' current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this communication. Forward looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "could," "should," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "outlook," "targets," "guidance," "intend," "may," "might," "will," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the Allergan acquisition, including future financial and operating results, Actavis' and Allergan's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and the expected timing of completion of the transaction. It is important to note that Actavis' goals and expectations are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially from Actavis' current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Actavis' business, Allergan's business and risks associated with acquisition transactions. These factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainty associated with financial projections; restructuring in connection with, and successful closing of, the Allergan acquisition; subsequent integration of the Allergan acquisition and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of the Allergan acquisition; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals for the transaction (including the approval of antitrust authorities necessary to complete the acquisition), the timing of obtaining such approvals and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction; the ability to obtain the requisite Allergan and Actavis shareholder approvals; the risk that a condition to closing of the Allergan acquisition may not be satisfied on a timely basis or at all; the failure of the proposed transaction to close for any other reason; risks relating to the value of the Actavis shares to be issued in the transaction; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Actavis' and Allergan's products; Actavis' and Allergan's ability to successfully develop and commercialize new products; Actavis' and Allergan's ability to conform to regulatory standards and receive requisite regulatory approvals; availability of raw materials and other key ingredients; uncertainty and costs of legal actions and government investigations; the inherent uncertainty associated with financial projections; fluctuations in Actavis' operating results and financial condition, particularly given our manufacturing and sales of branded and generic products; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; the adverse impact of substantial debt and other financial obligations on the ability to fulfill and/or refinance debt obligations; risks associated with relationships with employees, vendors or key customers as a result of acquisitions of businesses, technologies or products; our compliance with federal and state healthcare laws, including laws related to fraud, abuse, privacy security and others; risks of the generic industry generally; generic product competition with our branded products; uncertainty associated with the development of commercially successful branded pharmaceutical products; uncertainty associated with development and approval of commercially successful biosimilar products; costs and efforts to defend or enforce technology rights, patents or other intellectual property; expiration of Actavis' and Allergan's patents on our branded products and the potential for increased competition from generic manufacturers; risks associated with owning the branded and generic version of a product; competition between branded and generic products; the ability of branded product manufacturers to limit the production, marketing and use of generic products; Actavis' and Allergan's ability to obtain and afford third-party licenses and proprietary technology we need; Actavis' and Allergan's potential infringement of others' proprietary rights; our dependency on third-party service providers and third-party manufacturers and suppliers that in some cases may be the only source of finished products or raw materials that we need; Actavis' competition with certain of our significant customers; the impact of our returns, allowance and chargeback policies on our future revenue; successful compliance with governmental regulations applicable to Actavis' and Actavis' respective third party providers' facilities, products and/or businesses; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of product development efforts and regulatory agency approvals or actions, if any; Actavis' and Allergan's vulnerability to and ability to defend against product liability claims and obtain sufficient or any product liability insurance; Actavis' and Allergan's ability to retain qualified employees and key personnel; the effect of intangible assets and resulting impairment testing and impairment charges on our financial condition; Actavis' ability to obtain additional debt or raise additional equity on terms that are favorable to Actavis; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; our ability to manage environmental liabilities; global economic conditions; Actavis' ability to continue foreign operations in countries that have deteriorating political or diplomatic relationships with the United States; Actavis' and Allergan's ability to continue to maintain global operations; risks associated with tax liabilities, or changes in U.S. federal or international tax laws to which we are subject, including the risk that the Internal Revenue Service disagrees that Actavis is a foreign corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes; risks of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with cyber-security and vulnerability of our information and employee, customer and business information that Actavis stores digitally; Actavis' ability to maintain internal control over financial reporting; changes in the laws and regulations, affecting among other things, availability, pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products; the highly competitive nature of the pharmaceutical industry; Actavis' ability to successfully navigate consolidation of our distribution network and concentration of our customer base; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future litigation or government investigations; developments regarding products once they have reached the market and such other risks and uncertainties detailed in Actavis' periodic public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to Actavis' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as amended from time to time in Actavis' other investor communications. Except as expressly required by law, Actavis disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed merger between Actavis and Allergan, Actavis has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, including Amendment No. 1 thereto, that contains a joint proxy statement of Actavis and Allergan that also constitutes a prospectus of Actavis. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on January 26, 2015. Each of Actavis and Allergan commenced mailing the joint proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders or its stockholders on January 28, 2015. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ACTAVIS AND ALLERGAN ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Actavis and Allergan through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Actavis are available free of charge on Actavis' internet website at www.Actavis.com or by contacting Actavis' Investor Relations Department at (862) 261-7488. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Allergan are available free of charge on Allergan's internet website at www.Allergan.com or by contacting Allergan's Investor Relations Department at (714) 246-4766.

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

Actavis, Allergan, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the Actavis and Allergan shareholders in connection with the proposed merger is set forth in the joint proxy statement/prospectus. Information about the directors and executive officers of Allergan is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 26, 2014 and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Information about the directors and executive officers of Actavis is set forth in Actavis' proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2014 and certain of Actavis' Current Reports on Form 8-K. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the above-referenced registration statement on Form S-4 and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

SOURCE Actavis plc

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