Acquisition

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
27 April 2007






Issued on behalf of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC by Citigate Dewe Rogerson.
Date: Friday, 27 April 2007
                                                               Embargoed: 7.00am

                           Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC

                                 Dechra expands
            its veterinary laboratories business through acquisition

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC ('Dechra' or the 'Group') announces today that the
Group has extended its laboratories business through the acquisition of Leeds
Veterinary Laboratories Limited ('LVL').

LVL is a well established veterinary laboratory operation founded in 1986. The
business employs 18 staff and 3 consultants and offers a comprehensive range of
veterinary diagnostic tests for companion, exotic, equine and farm animals from
its 6,000 sq.ft facility in Yeadon, Leeds, North Yorkshire.

The effective consideration for the LVL acquisition is £750,000 which will be
satisfied by £700,000 in cash on completion together with the issue of 14,808
new ordinary shares in Dechra at 337.66 pence, being the average price of each
ordinary share for the three days prior to completion.

For the year ended 31 May 2006, LVL's accounts showed sales of £955,000 and a
profit before taxation of £74,000. Net assets at the same date were £386,000.

The net assets at 31 May 2006 included the freehold site from which LVL operates
which had a book value of £287,000. This property does not form part of this
purchase transaction. A sale and leaseback agreement has been reached between
the Group and the principal shareholder which will allow LVL to continue to
operate from its current site in Yeadon.

Following the acquisition, all the staff will remain with the business including
co-founders Susan and Andrew Keane who will continue in their current roles.
Anne Jones, the principal shareholder who founded the business 21 years ago,
will retire from full time executive responsibilities but will remain with the
business on a consultancy basis.

LVL will operate within Dechra's Services division as part of its existing
veterinary laboratories operations of NationWide Laboratories and Cambridge
Specialist Laboratory Services.

Application has been made to the UKLA and the London Stock Exchange for the new
ordinary shares being issued to be admitted to the Official List. It is expected
that dealings in the new ordinary shares will commence on 2 May 2007.

Commenting on the LVL acquisition, Ian Page, Chief Executive, Dechra
Pharmaceuticals said:

'LVL is a well-managed operation that has developed a strong reputation for
providing a high standard of service. Strategically, LVL increases our market
share and skills set within the veterinary laboratories market.'


Enquiries:
Ian Page, Chief Executive                  Fiona Tooley, Director
Simon Evans, Group Finance Director        Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC                 Mobile: [phone]
Telephone: [phone]             Telephone: [phone]
Mobile: [phone] (IP)
Mobile: [phone] (SE)
www.dechra.com


Editors Notes:

Leeds Veterinary Laboratories Limited ('LVL')
LVL provides a comprehensive range of veterinary laboratory tests across the
haematology, cytology, clinical chemistry, serology, microbiology (pathological
and food) and histopathology.

The business has a wide customer base and is not dependant on any one customer.
Currently around 50% of revenues derive from UK veterinary practices with the
balance of revenues coming from its role as a Contract Research Operation for
the international animal pharmaceutical industry and a range of other ad-hoc
project related services.

The detailed range of tests available to veterinary surgeons and species covered
is on www.lvlabs.co.uk.

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC ('Dechra')
Dechra operates under two divisions; Pharmaceuticals and Services. Both
divisions are focussed on the veterinary market with a key area of
specialisation being on companion animal products. The Group employs 700 people
across its 16 locations across the UK and USA. www.dechra.com




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