LONDON, September 20 /PRNewswire/ --     In November 2007, Scrip will publish the Expert Guide to
Consolidation in Pharma in partnership with RBS. Part of the Scrip
Supplements programme, this magazine will provide the global pharmaceutical
market with advice and opinion from a number of industry experts. Available
to Scrip's 100,000+ readers worldwide and free to download on
http://www.scripsupplements.com or by request to the publisher, the magazine 
will give expert answers to the following questions:

Where are we now?

Market dynamics, the state of play, consolidation opportunities and 
trends now and in the future

Why consolidate?

Why companies consolidate - market drivers?

Exploring M&A and licensing

What are the key models of consolidation & collaboration?

The pros and cons of different approaches

Industry variations - biotechs, generics manufacturers, speciality pharma 
and big pharma

RBS's Steve Barlow said today: "The trend of consolidation in
pharma is well recognised and continually evolving. Developments such as the
potential appetite of private equity firms and the draw of emerging pharma
markets will make an increasingly big impact. At the same time, companies
will continue to look to secure their positions and replenish their pipelines
in an industry that is growing ever more competitive. At the same time, the
interaction between pharmaceutical and generics manufacturers is growing and
companies are re-thinking both their growth and defence strategies. In such
an environment, it is essential to take stock of the situation and look to
the future of a trend that continues to define the industry."

Mr Barlow continued: "We are delighted to be supporting Scrip
on this project. The Expert Guide is an ideal platform on which to explore
this important topic and Scrip is the right partner with which to work on
such a publication. As the world's leading, independent pharmaceutical news
provider, Scrip is well-placed to bring together the right people to discuss
the issue in an unbiased, educational way."

RBS: services for pharma

"At RBS we know that smart financing has a crucial part to
play in pharma's changing landscape, whether you're a company on the front
foot, looking to expand, or you are looking to stabilise and shore up your
position," said Mr Barlow.

Founded in 1727, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) is the
12th largest bank globally by market capitalisation and the fourth largest in
Europe (July 2007). It serves more than 36 million customers worldwide. Its
Global Banking & Markets business is a leading banker to corporations and
financial institutions around the world, specialising in providing these
customers with a full range of risk management, debt financing and investor
services.

RBS has a dedicated team of pharmaceutical and healthcare
industry specialists who work strategically with customers worldwide to meet
their financing and risk management requirements. It provides smart financing
packages to support clients' business objectives, be it using acquisition
finance to expand, helping companies devise the most efficient capital
structures or tailoring specific liability management strategies.

Scrip World Pharmaceutical News is the leading provider of
news and analysis for the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
With its network of journalists in Europe, the US and Asia, Scrip updates its
subscribers daily via the website or direct email alert, and twice weekly in
a print or PDF newsletter. Pharmaceutical companies the world over rely on
Scrip for timely, comprehensive and accurate information on all issues
affecting their business.

For further press details, and for a PDF copy of Scrip's
    Expert Guide to Consolidation in Pharma, contact:

    Jenefer Trevena, Managing Editor
    Scrip Publishing, Tel: +44-(0)20-7017-6989
    Email: jenefer.trevena@informa.com
    Web: http://www.scripnews.com

    For information on RBS's services for pharma, contact:

    Steve Barlow, Managing Director
    Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Corporate Coverage
    RBS Global Banking & Markets, Tel: +44-(0)20-7085 8810
    Email: steve.barlow@rbs.com
    Web: http://www.rbs.com