Norihiro Ashida

Mr. Norihiro Ashida, born in 1954, is a Non-executive Director of our Company. Mr. Ashida has served as a Director since 1 November 2006 and has also served as a Director of MP Shanghai since March 2004. Mr. Ashida is currently holding directorship in certain subsidiaries of the Group.

Mr. Ashida is an Executive Operating Officer of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. ("Otsuka Holdings") and the Director of its corporate development department. Mr. Ashida is also a Director of Otsuka Medical Devices Co., Ltd. He joined Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Otsuka Pharmaceutical") in April 2003 from Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., where he was a general manager from 2002 to 2003. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Ashida was a general manager of the Industrial Bank of Japan ("IBJ"), where he headed the credit department for western Japan. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Ashida served as Vice President responsible for business development at 3iBJ Ltd., a venture capital firm formed by 3i Group plc and IBJ. From 1989 to 1995, Mr. Ashida was a Senior Vice President of IBJ (Canada). He joined IBJ in 1977 in its Tokyo branch.

Mr. Ashida received his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Tokyo in 1977.