VWR International, Inc. to be Acquired by Madison Dearborn Partners

VWR International, Inc. to be Acquired by Madison Dearborn Partners

May 03, 2007

    WEST CHESTER, Pa., May 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- VWR
International, Inc., a portfolio company of Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (CD&R) and a leader in the
global laboratory supply industry, today announced that
CDRV Investors, Inc., its parent company, has entered into
a definitive agreement that will result in VWR being
acquired by Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP).  The
transaction is expected to be completed during the third
quarter of 2007, subject to customary closing conditions. 
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    This announcement follows a period of significant
growth and profitability for VWR, driven by strategic
initiatives designed to make VWR the supplier of choice in
the $27 billion global laboratory supply industry.  With
2006 revenue of over $3.2 billion, VWR is the second
largest distributor in the industry and has a global base
of customers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, education
and industry. 
  
    "This transaction is clear recognition of our
achievements over the past three years," said VWR
President and Chief Executive Officer, John Ballbach. 
"Together with the team from CD&R, we have put
together a very talented management team, restructured our
operations to more efficiently serve customers, made
significant debt repayments and launched our business in
Asia.  We are very appreciative of our employees' efforts,
as well as the loyalty of our customers, which have
together made VWR the market leader it is today.  We look
forward to continuing to execute our strategy together with
Madison Dearborn Partners and to maintaining our position as
a market leader."

    Madison Dearborn Partners is one of the most successful
private equity investors in the U.S.  Since its formation in
1993, MDP funds have closed over 100 transactions in the
U.S. and Europe.  Tim Sullivan, a Managing Director for
MDP, said: "We believe VWR is the premier distributor
to the global laboratory supply industry. The Company's
outstanding management team, superior distribution
capabilities and excellent vendor and customer
relationships are keys to its success.  We are excited
about the Company's leadership and opportunity for
continued growth."

    Richard J. Schnall, a VWR director and partner at
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, which acquired VWR from Merck
KGaA in April of 2004, said, "We are extremely proud of
the management team and of the performance gains achieved by
the business over the period of our ownership.  VWR is a
great company and is positioned to continue to grow and
prosper in the future."

    VWR announced on March 12, 2007 that it was exploring
strategic options for the Company.

    About VWR International, Inc.
 
    VWR International is a leader in the global research
laboratory industry with worldwide sales in excess of $3
billion US dollars. VWR's business is highly diversified
across products and services, geographic regions and
customer segments. The Company offers products from a wide
range of manufacturers, to a large number of customers
primarily in North America, Europe and other locations.
VWR's principal customers are major pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, chemical, technology, clinical, food
processing and consumer product companies, universities and
research institutes, governmental agencies, environmental
testing organizations, and primary and secondary schools.
VWR distributes a diversified product mix, including
chemicals, glassware and plasticware, equipment and
instruments, furniture, protective apparel, production and
safety products, and other life science and laboratory
products and supplies. VWR supports its customers by
providing storeroom management, product procurement, supply
chain systems integration, technical services and laboratory
bench top delivery. VWR maintains operations in over 20
countries and employs over 6,000 people worldwide. VWR
International is headquartered in West Chester,
Pennsylvania. VWR-G

    For more information on VWR International, phone
1-800-932-5000, visit http://www.vwr.com , or write, VWR
International, Inc., 1310 Goshen Parkway, P.O. Box 2656,
West Chester, PA 19380-0906.

    VWR and design are registered trademarks of VWR
International, Inc.

    About Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC

    Madison Dearborn Partners, based in Chicago, is one of
the most experienced and successful private equity
investment firms in the United States.  MDP has more than
$14 billion of equity capital under management and makes
new investments through its most recent fund, Madison
Dearborn Capital Partners V, a $6.5 billion investment fund
raised in 2006.  MDP focuses on management buyout
transactions and other private equity investments across a
broad spectrum of industries, including basic industries,
communications, consumer, financial services, and health
care. For more information, please visit the MDP website at
http://www.mdcp.com.

    About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc.

    Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (CD&R) is a
leading private equity investment firm that has earned
consistent, superior investment returns using an integrated
operational and financial approach to building and growing
portfolio businesses. Since its founding in 1978, CD&R
has managed investments of over $8 billion in 39 U.S. and
European subsidiaries or divisions of large multi-business
corporations with revenues exceeding $40 billion,
representing an aggregate transaction value of over $40
billion. CD&R led a group of investors in the purchase
of The Hertz Corporation from Ford Motor Company in
December 2005. The firm's investments have also included
Kinko's, which was sold to FedEx in February 2004; Culligan
International, leading global provider of water treatment
product and services; and Scotts, a leader in
do-it-yourself lawn and garden consumer products. CD&R
is based in New York and London. For more information about
CD&R, visit http://www.cdr-inc.com . 

    This release includes forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical,
but are made based on management's current expectations and
beliefs concerning future developments and their potential
effects upon VWR International, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
There can be no assurance that future developments
affecting the Company will be those anticipated by
management. These forward-looking statements are not a
guarantee of future performance and involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors, including without
limitation those described under the caption "Item 1A.
Risk Factors" and other risks described in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006
and the Company's other reports on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and are under no
obligation, to update any particular forward-looking
statement included in this release.


    For more information, please contact:

     Alan Oshiki
     Broadgate Consultants, LLC
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]