News Release

Siegfried appoints Rudolf Hanko Chief Executive

Siegfried Holding AG in Zofingen (SIX: SFZN) announces the appointment of Dr. Rudolf Hanko as new Chief Executive Officer. The 53-year-old Rudolf Hanko, a German citizen, holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and has held several management positions in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. He is currently Head of the exclusive synthesis and amino acids business line of Evonik Industries AG, a German specialty chemical company. Prior to his appointment to Evonik, Hanko was Head of chemical research at Bayer AG’s pharmaceutical Division and subsequently General Manager of the company’s fine chemicals business unit.

Siegfried Chairman Markus Altwegg: “Rudolf Hanko has profound knowledge and extensive experience in our core business, namely exclusive synthesis for the research-based pharmaceutical industry. His record of performance and deep roots in this market together with our proven technical processes and high standards present a strong foundation for success.”

Dr. Rudolf Hanko will assume responsibility for the company on 1 May 2009.

Siegfried’s Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Richard Schindler, will leave the company to take on a new position with another Swiss company. Richard Schindler joined Siegfried on 1 May 2000. The Board of Directors and Group Management would like to thank him for his enormous commitment and dedication during the past 9 years. The appointment of a new CFO will be announced in due course.

Zofingen, March 12, 2009

For further information:

Peter A. Gehler, Chief Communication Officer Siegfried Group

Tel. +41 (0)62 746 11 44, Fax +41 (0)62 746 11 03

Mobile +41 79 416 41 16

Siegfried Holding AG

Untere Brühlstrasse 4

CH - 4800 Zofingen

Phone + 41 62 746 11 11

Fax + 41 62 746 11 04

Significant professional stations of Dr. Rudolf Hanko

Nationality:German

Marital status:Married, 2 children

Date of birth:17 July 1955

Education:Ph.D. in chemistry, University ofGöttingen. Post-Ph.D.

doctoral research at the Max Planck Institute, Mülheim

1985Employment with Bayer AG. From 1994 Head of Strate-

gic Planning Pharma, subsequently Head of Chemical

Research, and finally General Manager of the fine

chemicals business unit

2004 – present:Appointment by Degussa (today the chemicals business

area of Evonik Industries AG) as Head of the exclusive

synthesisbusiness line. Subsequently General Manager

of the exclusive synthesisand amino acids business

About Siegfried

Active in Life Science markets, the Siegfried Group is a global manufacturer of pharmaceutical products with production facilities located in Switzerland, Germany, Malta and the US.A. Siegfried currently has approximately 850 employees and achieved annual sales of approx. CHF 318 million in 2007.

Siegfried has two pharmaceutical Divisions. Siegfried Actives develops and produces both exclusive active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and cGMP and non-cGMP intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry, and standard APIs. Siegfried Generics produces complex generic products.

Siegfried Holding AG is listed on the Swiss Exchange in Zurich (SIX: SFZN).

About Evonik

Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2007 about 43,000 employees generated sales of about €14.4 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of more than €2.2 billion.