PRWT SERVICES, INC. CELEBRATES
ACQUISITION BY CHEROKEE PHARMACEUTICALS OF RIVERSIDE PLANT

Acquisition brings regional economic stability,
additional life sciences opportunities to the Commonwealth

RIVERSIDE, PA (January 4, 2008) – Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined officials from PRWT Services, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. to celebrate the acquisition of the Riverside-based plant through PRWT’s subsidiary Cherokee Pharmaceuticals LLC. The acquisition of the facility, which manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), provides economic stability to the region, and greater opportunity for the growth of the plant, makes PRWT the first minority business enterprise in the country to own a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Hundreds of employees, business leaders, members of the community and elected officials gathered at a press conference and reception held at the facility to help mark a new era in the plant's history.

Cherokee Pharmaceuticals LLC has retained the plant’s 400 jobs and will invest $15 million to upgrade the facility’s current operations in order to develop a life sciences campus on the site. Cherokee has also entered into a five-year supply agreement with Merck for an estimated value of $100-200 million annually. The Cherokee plant is a state-of-the-art API manufacturing facility of products/antibiotics for humans and animals.

“This acquisition not only brings economic stability to Northumberland County, it represents a tremendous growth opportunity in the life sciences industry for the Commonwealth,” said Governor Rendell. “I look forward to working with PRWT and Cherokee Pharmaceuticals to maximize opportunities at this site through the development of a sophisticated life sciences campus.”

All 400 employees working at the plant have been offered jobs and transferred their employment from Merck to Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, effective January 1, 2008. PRWT also intends to make considerable capital investments in the Cherokee plant to support the growth of the business and increase the number of jobs available in the Riverside and Danville communities.

“We are excited to join with members of the Riverside and Danville communities today to celebrate this historic moment, said Willie F. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of PRWT and chairman of Cherokee Pharmaceuticals. “The

Cherokee plant has played an integral role in this area for many years, both as an employer and as a supportive corporate neighbor.”

PRWT, through Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, is aligned with that commitment and looks forward to continuing that legacy, according to Johnson.

“Although our relationship with this plant and the community has changed, we felt a responsibility to the area to ensure the new owners would carry on Merck’s history of manufacturing quality products and corporate commitment,” said Willie Deese, president , Merck Manufacturing. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Riverside and Danville communities through our partnership with Cherokee Pharmaceuticals.”

In addition to maintaining current jobs, Cherokee Pharmaceuticals plans to grow and transform the API manufacturing plant into a life sciences campus. The plans call for the creation of additional jobs and economic opportunities for the region and the Commonwealth.

Justin Noll, plant manager for Cherokee Pharmaceuticals noted that the Riverside plant has provided economic stability to the region for more than five decades. And while the plant community had hoped to retain jobs, the new ownership’s plans have exceeded all expectations.

“Cherokee Pharmaceuticals has the thanks, support and confidence of those who live and work in the Riverside and Danville communities, Noll said. “We look forward to working together to make great things happen both inside the plant and out.”


About PRWT Services, Inc.
PRWT is a nationally-recognized, African-American-owned business headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1988, PRWT provides business process outsourcing (BPO) services to state and local governments across the country. PRWT is one of America’s largest minority-owned businesses and has been ranked in the top 100 by Black Enterprise magazine for the past seven years. In 2000, PRWT entered a new line of business by acquiring U.S. Facilities, Inc. (USF), a facilities management company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Since being acquired by PRWT, USF has won several multi-million-dollar contracts in the federal and municipal markets. For more information, visit http://www.prwt.com.

About Merck
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com.