Stiefel Laboratories Appoints Two New Members to Board of...( Private equity investor The Blacksto...)

Private equity investor The Blackstone Group now represented on company's

board

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. today announced the appointment of two new members to the company's board of directors. The appointments include a representative of the private equity firm The Blackstone Group, which recently became a minority-share investor in the company.

Joining the board are Lodewijk J.R. de Vink, a founding member of Blackstone Healthcare Partners LLP (BHP), and Jeffrey S. Thompson, chief operating officer for Stiefel Laboratories.

Charles W. Stiefel is president, chief executive officer and chairman of Stiefel Laboratories.

"I am pleased to welcome Jeff and Lodewijk to the board at this exciting time," Stiefel said. "Their appointments strengthen our board and thus our company. I am confident they will complement the team as our company continues to grow."

Blackstone's $500 million investment in Stiefel Laboratories, a deal which closed August 10, includes the right to designate one member on the company's board of directors.

Lodewijk de Vink has more than 40 years experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. In addition to working for such companies as Schering-Plough, Credit Suisse First Boston and Warner-Lambert Company as chairman and CEO, de Vink has been a consultant with Blackstone since 2003 and currently sits on several boards including Roche and Alcon.

"An important aspect of our relationship with Blackstone," Stiefel said, "is the ability to leverage its resources and experience. I look forward to working with Lodewijk not only because of his warm persona, but because of the unparalleled experience he brings to the board."

Jeffrey S. Thompson, COO, Stiefel Laboratories, also joins the board. Thompson, who is responsible for operations on a global level including corporate administration, facilities management, s
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