Healthcare Executive Francesco Granata Joins Warburg Pincus as Executive-in-Residence

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Mar 05, 2012, 03:00 ET

LONDON and NEW YORK, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing, today announced the appointment of Francesco Granata as an Executive-in-Residence focusing on the healthcare sector. Dr. Granata will support the firm in the identification and evaluation of new investments in the biopharmaceutical sector, particularly in Europe, and provide strategic counsel across the firm's global healthcare portfolio. Dr. Granata will be based in Warburg Pincus' London office.

Dr. Granata is an accomplished healthcare executive, with over 35 years experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries including most recently as Executive Vice President at Biogen Idec, a leading global biotechnology company where he led the global commercial operations from January 2010. Previously, Dr. Granata was Group Vice President and President for Schering-Plough's Europe and Canada region from 2005-2010, with responsibility for $5 billion in revenues and over 5,000 employees, and served as a member of the firm's Operations Management Team.

Bess Weatherman, head of the Healthcare Group at Warburg Pincus said, "Francesco brings a wealth of knowledge to our healthcare investment activities, particularly in Europe. His experience is invaluable as we look to partner with high quality management teams and make investments in companies with compelling strategic opportunities."

Dr. Granata commented, "I am pleased to join Warburg Pincus with its global track record and experience in building successful healthcare companies. The European healthcare market represents an attractive proposition where Warburg Pincus will be able to apply its investment skills and healthcare experience to help companies and their management teams deliver growth."

About Dr. Granata

Dr. Granata is an accomplished healthcare executive, with over 35 years experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries including most recently as Executive Vice President at Biogen Idec, a leading global biotechnology company where he led the global commercial operations from January 2010 through the end of 2011. Previously, Dr. Granata was Group Vice President and President for Schering-Plough's Europe and Canada region from 2005-2010, with responsibility for $5 billion in revenues and over 5,000 employees, and served as a member of the firm's Operations Management Team. He also has previously held senior positions with Pfizer, Pharmacia, Dompe Biotec, Glaxo and Dow Chemical.

Formerly Chairman of the European Committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association of America (PhRMA) and Co-chairman of the Heads of Europe Committee of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), Dr. Granata's most recent industry association appointment was as a board member of the EFPIA.

Dr. Granata has a Doctorate of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia, Italy.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The firm has more than $30 billion in assets under management. Its active portfolio of more than 125 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector and geography. Warburg Pincus is a growth investor and an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 13 private equity funds which have invested more than $40 billion in over 650 companies in more than 30 countries.

Since inception, the firm has invested over $7.9 billion in more than 130 healthcare companies, including investments in American Medical Systems, Bausch + Lomb, Coventry Health Care, Eurand (acquired by Axcan in 2011), Euromedic International (acquired by Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity and Ares Life Sciences in 2008), Harbin Pharmaceuticals, InterMune, Lepu Medical Technology, RegionalCare Hospital Partners, ReSearch Pharmaceutical Services, Rural/Metro Corporation, Tornier and Zentiva (acquired by sanofi-aventis in 2009).

The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mumbai, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com.