DEFA14A 1 ddefa14a.htm DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

 


 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨ 

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨    Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
¨    Definitive Proxy Statement
x   Definitive Additional Materials
¨    Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x    No fee required.

 

¨    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 


 

  2)    Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 


 

  3)    Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 


 

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¨    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  1)    Amount Previously Paid:

 


 

  2)    Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 


 

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  4)    Date Filed:

 


 



Exhibit 99.1

 

[SALIX LETTERHEAD]

 

June 13, 2003

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

On June 4, 2003, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. made a presentation to Institutional Shareholder Services or ISS, a company that advises institutional shareholders in connection with proxy solicitations. A copy of the presentation was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 2003. In the presentation, Salix made several references to the comments of independent research analysts. While for the reasons described below Salix believes that the term independent accurately describes those analysts, we are providing this supplemental disclosure to describe in detail the role of the various research analysts that cover Salix and the role of the investment banking division of Wachovia Securities that serves as Salix’s financial advisor. It is our understanding that in issuing its report recommending a vote in favor of Salix’s slate of directors, ISS was aware of the information set forth below.

 

As we have disclosed in previous SEC filings, specifically in our Schedule 14D-9 and in the third paragraph under the heading “Solicitation of Proxies” on page 26 of our definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC and mailed to you on May 27, 2003, Wachovia Securities is serving as Salix’s financial advisor in connection with Salix’s analysis and consideration of, and response to, the outstanding tender offer of Saule Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axcan Pharma Inc. Salix has agreed to pay Wachovia an advisory fee and a transaction fee. The advisory fee consists of $250,000 per month for each of April, May and June 2003, and approximately $100,000 monthly thereafter, provided the engagement has not been terminated. The transaction fee, if any, would equal $1,000,000 plus a success fee to be determined on the basis of the enterprise value ascribed to the Salix transaction. The full amount of the advisory fee paid by Salix shall be credited against any transaction fee. Salix has also agreed to reimburse Wachovia for all reasonable and customary expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and to indemnify Wachovia and its affiliates against liabilities relating to or arising out of this engagement. In addition, in 2002, Wachovia provided investment banking services to Salix in connection with Salix’s public offering of common stock, and in the ordinary course of business, Wachovia and its affiliates may actively trade or hold the common stock for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers, and accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in Salix common stock.

 

One of the analysts quoted in the ISS presentation, Michael Tong, is employed by Wachovia Securities. We do not believe, or have any reason to believe, that Mr. Tong has communicated with either Salix’s management or Salix’s financial advisors at Wachovia


concerning any aspect of Salix’s engagement of Wachovia in connection with the Tender Offer or the proxy solicitation. Nor do we believe that Salix’s engagement of Wachovia has in any way altered the independence of Mr. Tong’s analysis. In fact, Mr. Tong’s reports on Salix include a certification that the views expressed in those reports accurately reflect his personal views and that no part of his compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed. In addition, Wachovia Securities includes in these reports a statement that it does not compensate its research personnel for specific investment banking services transactions, although report authors receive compensation that is based on (among other factors) Wachovia Securities’ overall investment banking revenues.

 

The analysts at Leerink Swann & Company and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC are also described as independent in the June 4, 2003 ISS presentation. As disclosed in Salix’s SEC filings, including, specifically, its registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-82558) originally filed on February 12, 2002, Leerink Swann and Thomas Weisel Partners were each co-managers of Salix’s March 2002 public offering and respectively received approximately $460,000 and $650,000 from Salix for such services. Each of these companies has also disclosed in their analysts’ reports that it intends to seek investment banking compensation from Salix in the next three months, which Salix believes is standard disclosure for these and many other investment banks. Salix believes that these disclosures were included to enable these companies to solicit business from Salix in the future. To Salix’s knowledge, Salix does not owe any compensation to these companies, nor will any be owed in the future. The analyst for Thomas Weisel Partners includes certifications in his reports similar to those of Mr. Tong.

 

Finally, C.J. Sylvester, an analyst at UBS Warburg, was also described as independent in the ISS presentation. UBS Warburg has disclosed in its reports, and Salix disclosed in its Form S-3 referenced above, within the past year, UBS Warburg or an affiliate acted as co-manager in the placement of Salix securities and had received approximately $1,300,000 in compensation for investment banking services to Salix. To Salix’s knowledge, Salix does not owe any compensation to UBS Warburg, nor will any be owed in the future. Mr. Sylvester includes in his reports similar certifications to Mr. Tong’s.

 

We would like to note that on April 14, 2003, Mr. Sylvester stated that Salix stock was fully valued at $10.19. On April 23, 2003 and May 14, 2003, Salix publicly disclosed estimates of sales of its second drug candidate, Rifaximin, and on May 14, 2003 Salix also publicly disclosed first quarter results beating analysts’ estimates, as well as increased sales estimates for its existing product, Colazal®, for 2003 and 2004. On May 15, 2003, Mr. Sylvester raised his price estimate for Salix stock to $13 per share and made the comments included in the ISS presentation.

 

We believe that it is also important to note that analysts at Thomas Weisel Partners and UBS Warburg provide research coverage on Axcan Pharma. Furthermore, over the past 15 months the investment banking divisions of such firms have received compensation for investment banking services provided with respect to the issuance of securities by Axcan.

 

Enclosed is a copy of the ISS presentation, including supplemental disclosures on pages 29 to 30 about the relationships between Salix and the companies that employ these

 

2


analysts. The revised presentation also makes clear that the forward-looking numbers used in the “Peer Group Valuation” slide on page 29 of the updated presentation are taken from First Call, and that those consensus First Call numbers for Salix consist of estimates from Leerink Swann & Company, Thomas Weisel Partners LLC, UBS Warburg, and Wachovia the only companies that provided coverage for the stock at the time of the presentation. (On June 5, 2003, Roth Capital, with whom Salix has no relationship whatsoever, initiated coverage with a price target of $15.00 per share.)

 

Again, while for the reasons described above Salix believes that the term independent accurately describes these analysts, we are providing this supplemental disclosure to describe in detail the role of the various research analysts that cover Salix and the role of the investment banking division of Wachovia Securities that serves as Salix’s financial advisor.

 

Sincerely,

   

/s/  Carolyn J. Logan

   

Carolyn J. Logan

President and CEO

   

 

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Exhibit 99.2

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

 

Presentation to Institutional Shareholder Services

June 4, 2003

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.


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WHY SUPPORT THE INCUMBENT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

 

  l   Strong business execution

 

    Salix’s Board has consistently made decisions that have enhanced stockholder value

 

    Salix is at the cusp of realizing the benefit of our efforts and success in executing our business plan

 

    Salix is poised for significant growth and profitability, and can better enhance stockholder value by continuing to execute its business plan

 

  l   Good Corporate Governance
    Independent, experienced Board

 

  l   Incumbent Board more aligned with stockholders
    Salix’s D&O own 15.5% of outstanding common stock

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        2


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CORPORATE PROFILE

 

  l   Specialty pharmaceutical company

 

  n   Gastroenterology-focused

 

  l   Headquarters: Raleigh, NC

 

  l   135 employees

 

  n   84-member sales and marketing team

 

  l   COLAZAL® product revenues

 

    2001 $14.1 million

 

    2002 $33.5 million

 

    2003 $53E million

 

    2004 $70—73E million

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        3


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MISSION STATEMENT

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals is dedicated

to being the leading specialty

pharmaceutical company providing

products to gastroenterologists

and their patients

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        4


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SALIX HAS A CLEAR, FOCUSED

STRATEGY

 

Enhance stockholder value:

 

  l   In-license selective late-stage/marketed product candidates

 

    U.S. gastroenterology focus

 

    Reduce risk and capital commitment

 

  l   Complete any required development and secure FDA approval

 

  l   Sell products through specialty sales force

 

    Establish franchise with U.S. gastroenterologists

 

    Sell products that serve unmet needs

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        5


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SALIX HAS SUCCESSFULLY  
EXECUTED ITS BUSINESS PLAN

 

  l   Premier Specialty Sales Force

 

  l   COLAZAL®—approved and marketed

 

  l   Rifaximin—FDA approvable letter

 

  l   Granulated mesalamine—scheduled to enter Phase III

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        6


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PREMIER

GASTROENTEROLOGY

SALES FORCE

 

  l   84-member sales and marketing team

 

  l   Experienced, incentivized professionals

 

  l   Reputation for integrity and quality

 

  l   Established franchise with gastroenterologists

 

  l   Infrastructure in place to be leveraged with future products

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        7


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COLAZAL

 

  l   Approved for first-line treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC)

 

  l   The fastest growing drug of its kind in the marketplace based upon 2002 prescriptions

 

  l   COLAZAL revenue alone is expected to provide profitability in the second half of 2004

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        8


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COLAZAL

TOTAL PRESCRIPTIONS

 

[GRAPHICS APPEARS HERE]

 

Source: NDC

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        9


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5-ASA MARKET SHARE CHANGE SINCE

COLAZAL LAUNCH

 

[GRAPHICS APPEARS HERE]

 

Source: NDC Health Called-On Physicians

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        10


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RIFAXIMIN

 

  l   A unique, broad-spectrum, gastrointestinal-specific, non-absorbed, oral antibiotic

 

  l   FDA approvable letter received October 2002

 

  l   FDA approvable letter response—4Q/2003

 

  l   Anticipated launch—mid-2004

 

  l   Approval in 2004 provides profitability for 2004

 

  l   Expected to be bigger than COLAZAL with a potential U.S. annual retail market in excess of 12 million patients and $2 billion

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        11


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RIFAXIMIN

(CONTINUED)

 

  l   Travelers’ diarrhea—First indication

 

  l   Over 100 clinical publications for a broad range of GI diseases

 

  l   Clinical studies for additional potential uses

 

    Completed

 

  n   Hepatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease

 

    Ongoing

 

  n   Pouchitis, C. difficile-associated diarrhea

 

    Soon-to-be-initiated

 

  n   Small bowel overgrowth, TD prophylaxis

 

  l   Salix intends to seek FDA approval for additional indications

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        12


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GRANULATED MESALAMINE

 

  l   In-licensed from Dr. Falk Pharma, a leading European gastroenterology company

 

  l   Given unique release mechanism, Salix intends to develop for:

 

    expanded ulcerative colitis treatment options

 

    improved dosing regimens

 

  l   Patent protected to 2018

 

  l   First right of negotiation for certain other products

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        13


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SALIX IS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTING

ITS BUSINESS PLAN

 

  l   Salix has made tremendous progress over three years in building a thriving specialty pharmaceutical franchise

 

  l   Salix has proven its ability to in-license, complete any required development, and launch and sell drugs through our focused specialty sales force

 

  l   Salix is at the cusp of realizing the benefit of our efforts and success in executing our business plan

 

  l   Salix is poised for significant growth and profitability, and can better enhance stockholder value by continuing to execute its business plan

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        14


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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

 

 

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        15


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SALIX IS GOVERNED BY AN

INDEPENDENT BOARD

 

John F. Chappell    IO   

Former Chairman, Worldwide

Pharmaceuticals, SmithKline

Beecham plc

(28 yrs pharmaceutical executive)

Thomas W. D’Alonzo    IO   

Former President, PPD, Inc. & Glaxo, Inc.

(17 yrs pharmaceutical executive)

Richard A. Franco    IO   

Former Chairman and CEO,

LipoScience, Inc. & Trimeris, Inc.

(32 yrs health care and

pharmaceutical executive)

Carolyn J. Logan    I   

President, CEO and Director

(22 yrs pharmaceutical executive)

Robert P. Ruscher    I   

Executive Chairman

(9 yrs pharmaceutical executive)

 

IO = Independent outsider         I = Insider

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        16


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KEY BOARD COMMITTEES ARE FULLY

INDEPENDENT

 

Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committee members

 

John F. Chappell

        Chair, Compensation

 

Thomas W. D’Alonzo

        Chair, Audit

 

Richard A. Franco

        Chair, Nominating

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        17


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SALIX BOARD’S INTERESTS ARE

ALIGNED WITH ITS STOCKHOLDERS

 

     Shares Owned

   % O.S.**

 

Salix Directors*

   1,624,396    7.6 %

Axcan (Saule Holdings)

   100    0.0005 %

*   Salix Officers and Directors hold an aggregate of 3.3 million shares of SLXP common stock, representing 15.5 % of O.S. The aggregate market value of their equity holdings is 25 times greater than their annual salaries.
**   Outstanding shares

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        18


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SALIX PRACTICES GOOD

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

  l   All directors elected annually

 

  l   Stockholders can amend the bylaws by majority vote

 

  l   Holders of 10% can call special meetings

 

  l   Merger can be approved by simple majority vote

 

  l   Original Rights Plan approved by stockholders

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        19


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SALIX PRACTICES GOOD

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

(CONTINUED)

 

  l   The CEO and Chairman roles are separated, and have been since 1999

 

  l   All directors have excellent meeting attendance

 

  l   Non-audit fees consistently lower than audit fees

 

  l   Auditor appointment ratified by stockholders annually

 

  l   Active involvement of outside directors and advisors

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        20


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SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

 

  l   Approved by shareholders (94% of votes cast) in June 2000

 

  l   Updated January 2003 after Salix:

 

    Reincorporated from a British Virgin Islands corporation to a Delaware corporation in 2002

 

    Changed from Toronto Stock Exchange listing to Nasdaq listing in 2000

 

  l   Plan was not updated or adopted in response to any discussions with Axcan

 

  l   Rights plan before and after January 2003 update would have same practical effect with respect to Axcan tender

 

  l   Rights plan periodically evaluated with respect to the best interests of stockholders

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        21


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GOOD CORPORATE

GOVERNANCE IN ACTION

 

The Salix Board has a record of carefully considering indications of

interest and being advised of, understanding and complying

with, their fiduciary duties

 

AXCAN Tender Offer

 

  l   Board has met formally 6 times

 

    over 17 hours of meetings/deliberations

 

  l   Sought and utilized advice from independent advisors, including:

 

    2 law firms

 

    1 financial advisor

 

    Leading medical authorities

 

  l   Both decisions to reject Axcan’s offers were affirmed by independent Board members in closed meetings without insider directors

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        22


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SALIX HAS ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO

MEET WITH THIRD PARTIES AND

DISCUSS STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES

 

CONTACTS WITH AXCAN

 

April 1999—January 2003

 

During this period, Salix estimates that there were over 30 communications between Salix and Axcan in the form of meetings, telephone calls, letters and substantive e-mails. Salix never failed to respond to a telephone call or request for a meeting from Axcan.

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        23


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SALIX HAS ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO

MEET WITH THIRD PARTIES AND

DISCUSS STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES

(CONTINUED)

 

CONTACTS WITH AXCAN

 

January 2003—April 2003

 

January 2003

 

Salix seeks to postpone meeting scheduled for January 30, 2003

 

February—March 2003

 

No communication between Salix and Axcan

 

April 2003

 

Axcan initiates hostile tender offer and related actions

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        24


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THE SALIX BOARD HAS A HISTORY OF

MAKING STRATEGIC DECISIONS THAT

ENHANCE STOCKHOLDER VALUE

 

  l   Axcan first sought to acquire Salix on Dec. 14, 1999 when SLXP stock was trading on the TSE at US$ 0.12 per share

 

    The Salix Board determined that its stock at that time did not adequately reflect true value in light of potential for balsalazide (COLAZAL), and that Salix stockholders would best be served by Salix’s execution of its business plan

 

    A 12/99 premiums paid analysis (similar to that currently used by Axcan to justify its current $10.50 offer) would have implied that an offer below $1.00 per share would have been “fair value” for Salix

 

    Twelve months later, Salix announced US launch of COLAZAL (1/22/01), and Salix stock closed at $9.50

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        25


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SALIX HAS ADDED SIGNIFICANT

STOCKHOLDER VALUE

 

SLXP and AXCA Relative Stock Price Performance

Between Axcan’s 12/14/99 Initial Inquiry

and one day prior to its 4/10/03 Offer

 

SLXP: 62-fold increase                 AXCA: 2.7-fold increase

 

Clearly, by successfully implementing its current business plan initiated in 1999, Salix has added significant stockholder value

 

Clearly, Salix stockholders were better served by the Salix Board’s decision in late 1999 and 2000 to execute its business plan and launch COLAZAL, rather than sell to Axcan when the Salix stock did not reflect the true value of its first product

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        26


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THE SALIX BOARD BELIEVES STOCKHOLDERS WILL

ONCE AGAIN BE BETTER SERVED

BY EXECUTING THE BUSINESS PLAN

 

Now, 12 months prior to the projected launch of Salix’s second product, Rifaximin, Axcan is once again trying to acquire Salix at a time when Salix is poised for substantial growth, but when its stock is substantially undervalued

 

The Salix Board believes stockholders will once again be better served by executing Salix’s business plan and launching its second product, rather than selling to Axcan when the Salix stock does not reflect the true value of its gastroenterology franchise, its second product, Rifaximin, or its third product, granulated mesalamine

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        27


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VALUATION

CONSIDERATIONS

 

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        28


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PEER GROUP VALUATION SHOWS SALIX IS

SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERVALUED

ENTERPRISE VALUE* / REVENUE

 

          Valuation Data

Comparable Company(1)


  

6/2/2003

Price


   Revenue(2)

   Enterprise Value/
Revenue(3)


      LTM

   2003E

   2004E

   LTM

   2003E

   2004E

Alkermes

   $ 13.11    $ 15.5    $ 52.0    $ 67.2    18.9x    17.3x    13.4x

Connetics

     16.53      51.7      69.2      93.1    8.7x    7.1x    5.3x

Medicines Co.

     23.31      47.3      84.4      134.9    20.3x    11.4x    7.1x

MGI Pharma

     20.70      26.2      52.8      102.1    17.0x    9.3x    4.8x
                            Mean    16.2x    11.3x    7.6x

Salix(4)

   $ 11.80    $ 38.8    $ 52.3    $ 81.8    5.3x    3.9x    2.5x

(1)   Peer group comprised of specialty pharma companies projected to be profitable in next 24 months
(2)   LTM=Last twelve months
(3)   Estimates obtained from First Call
(4)   First Call estimates comprised of research reports from Leerink Swann, Thomas Weisel Partners, UBS Warburg and Wachovia Securities

 

*   Enterprise value = market value of equity plus net debt
$   in millions, except per share numbers

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        29


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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

ANALYSTS’ COMMENTS

 

  l   The following five (5) slides show selected comments from research analysts that cover Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

 

  l   Salix has retained the investment banking division of Wachovia Securities as its financial advisor in connection with the Axcan hostile tender offer and proxy solicitation and has agreed to pay Wachovia an advisory fee and a transaction fee. In addition, in March 2002 Wachovia provided investment banking services to Salix in connection with Salix’s public offering of common stock.

 

  l   Leerink Swann & Company, Thomas Weisel Partners LLC and UBS Warburg also participated in Salix’s public offering as co-managers. To Salix’s knowledge, Salix does not owe any compensation to these companies, nor will it in the future.

 

  l   Notwithstanding the foregoing, Salix believes that the term independent accurately describes the research analysts quoted herein because:

 

  ·   Investment banks have procedures to prevent inappropriate communication between their research and investment banking divisions

 

  ·   Analysts’ reports express the personal views of the analysts

 

  ·   Analysts are not paid based on fees from specific investment banking transactions

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        30


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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ANALYSTS’

COMMENTS

 

AXCAN TENDER OFFER AND SALIX STRATEGIC PLAN

 

l   “Axcan has raised its hostile offer for SLXP to $10.50 per share (from $8.75 per share)…We believe that the new bid does not fully reflect the potential of rifaximin…We believe SLXP shareholders could potentially derive more value from approval and launch of Rifaximin, rather than trading in the shares prematurely at $10.50.” (M Tong—Wachovia 5/20/03)

 

l   “We believe that the majority of SLXP shareholders are growth investors and own shares in anticipation of continued growth of COLAZAL and future product launches. The rifaximin launch in FY04 represents a pivotal point for Salix and will push the company towards profitability, in our opinion.”

  (D Ellis—Thomas Weisel Partners (TWP) 4/10/03)

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        31


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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ANALYSTS’

COMMENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

AXCAN TENDER OFFER AND SALIX STRATEGIC PLAN

 

l   “We believe SLXP’s current share price does not fully reflect Rifaximin’s intrinsic value potential.” (M Tong—Wachovia 5/14/03)

 

l   “We believe the Company has sufficient financial flexibility to execute product acquisitions that could complement its existing sales and market efforts. The company expects to turn profitable in H2 2004, with or without Rifaximin. Our analysis supports management’s assertion…We believe the company has sufficient cash to fund its operations until it turns profitable.” (M Tong—Wachovia 5/14/03)

 

l   “Even if the deal is not completed, we see limited downside for SLXP based on the valuation exercise above.”(M Tong—Wachovia 4/10/03)

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        32


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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ANALYSTS’

COMMENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

COLAZAL

 

l   “The company has raised its forecast for 2003 COLAZAL sales to $53 million from $50 million…Note that as of the week ending 5/2/03, COLAZAL had an annual run rate of almost $58 million…, which could indicate that the company’s expectations might prove conservative.” (CJ Sylvester—UBSW 5/15/03)

 

l   “Axcan suggests that COLAZAL’s growth is decelerating. We disagree again.” (M Tong—Wachovia 5/20/03)

 

l   “Sequentially, (Colazal) scripts increased 9.3% during the quarter (Q1 2003 over Q4 2002) and channel inventory levels at the end of Q1 (2003) stood at 1.1 months, vs. 1.5 months in Q4 2002.” (M Hearle—Leerink Swann 5/14/03)

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        33


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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ANALYSTS’

COMMENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

RIFAXIMIN

 

l   “We continue to believe that the company will provide the FDA with all necessary data for a Rifaximin approval in mid-2004 and that this will drive company profitability.. We believe this (travelers’ diarrhea) represents the first of several indications Salix will seek for Rifaximin. Other indications for which we expect Salix to seek Rifaximin approval in the near-term include: hepatic encephalopathy, small bowel overgrowth, pouchitis, diverticulitis, and C. difficile diarrhea.” (D Ellis—TWP 5/14/03)

 

l   “We have raised our 2005 Rifaximin forecast to $40 million from $15 million to account for the product’s substantial market opportunities.” (CJ Sylvester—UBS Warburg (USBW) 5/15/03)

 

l   ”Given Rifaximin’s low systemic absorption and resistance potential, it could be an ideal product for treatment of a broad range of GI infections, in our view… Management expects Rifaximin sales to exceed $550 million in its fifth year after launch (2009). This would equate to average market share of approximately 15% (in the sub-segments listed in Table 1).” (M Tong—Wachovia 5/14/03)

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        34


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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ANALYSTS’

COMMENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

GRANULATED MESALAMINE

 

l   “Given the potential for improved dosing (qd or bid vs. current tid administration), we believe peak sales (of granulated mesalamine product) could be $250-300MM—addressing a market of roughly 500,000 adults in the U.S.” (M Hearle—Leerink Swann 5/14/03)

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        35


LOGO

 

WHY SUPPORT THE INCUMBENT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

 

  l   Strong business execution

 

    Salix’s Board has consistently made decisions that have enhanced stockholder value

 

    Salix is at the cusp of realizing the benefit of our efforts and success in executing our business plan

 

    Salix is poised for significant growth and profitability, and can better enhance stockholder value by continuing to execute its business plan

 

  l   Good Corporate Governance

 

    Independent, experienced Board

 

  l   Incumbent Board more aligned with stockholders

 

    Salix’s D&O own 15.5% of outstanding common stock

 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.        36


LOGO

 

FORWARD-LOOKING

STATEMENTS

 

Statements presented in this overview which are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from projected results.

 

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include our dependence on balsalazide and rifaximin and their market acceptance, the risks of clinical trials and regulatory review, our limited sales and marketing experience and the need to acquire new products. These and other relevant risks are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

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