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STATEMENT FROM PRIMERA

November 10, 2014

From: Primera Management

To: Hendry County Board of Commissioners & Residents

Re: Response to the Recent Media Coverage & Animal Rights Activities

Primera is currently a target of animal rights extremist groups. These groups have been knownto harass employees of organizations such as ours as well as other companies related to thetransportation, brokering, supply or any other related activity with regards to animals used inbiomedical research. Such groups have the potential to commit illegal acts such as trespassing,property damage, disrupting business operations, making false & disparaging statements,illegally obtaining confidential information to disclose to the public and invading the privacy ofour neighbors, employees and their families. For these reasons, Primera must protect theprivacy and security of the respective parties.

Primera has assembled a team of recognized industry experts, including nonhuman primateveterinarians, geneticists, animal welfare and breeding/housing specialists, who have taken intoconsideration the variables (whether by acts of nature or human error) and consequentlydesigned an innovative facility with a program designed for the safety of humans, animals andthe environment.

Primera is committed to improving the quality of human and animal life. Our focus is alignedwith the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) in our unwaveringcommitment to refining the nonhuman primate research model and reducing the number ofanimals used in biomedical research.

Hendry County, FL is ideally situated in a subtropical climate which is conducive to agriculturaloperations & animal welfare, ground/air transportation accessibility and the local community'sappreciation for animals and their use. We stand by our commitment to create jobs and use thelocal community's offerings to promote economic development. Over the past several years,Primera has delivered on our commitment to utilize local businesses and resources towards thedevelopment of the facility.

Primeras business function falls under the agriculture zoning that is required by Hendry Countyfor such activities. Primera has fulfilled all the necessary environmental impact and surveyrequirements to obtain permitting. The waste management and water supply systems havebeen reviewed and permitted by the appropriate regulatory agencies.

The distorted and unsubstantiated media coverage is designed to misguide the public andconvey an agenda-driven story. It is propaganda which is based on various unfoundedstatements, unrelated background, and false accusations. For example, Primera will not beimporting 3,200 nonhuman primates from Biodia, Africa or anywhere else, as false media

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reports repeatedly claim. We request consideration from the general public to research andeducate themselves as opposed to accepting the false claims made by the media.

The concerns about the origin of primates from the island of Mauritius also brought forth theerroneous topic of the potential of the ebola virus being imported into Hendry County. Thisconcern is unfounded as the ebola virus being discussed is not found in Mauritius, but rather

thousands of ocean miles away in central regions of Africa. The United States Fish and Wildlifeand Center for Disease Control (CDC) enforce strict regulations on the importation of nonhumanprimates and require the quarantine of such imports. Importers must satisfy rigorous federaltesting and oversight requirements which have long been established. The USDA Animal andPlant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) also enforces strict regulations and oversightgoverning the care and welfare of these nonhuman primates, as established by the federal

Animal Welfare Act. These governmental agencies regularly audit the facilities as per theirrespective protocols.

The unbalanced and shock-value style of reporting portrayed in the media by various animalrights extremist groups reflects a prejudicial and biased image of Primera and the biomedicalresearch community.

We want to assure Hendry County residents that Primera is in full compliance with the rules,guidelines and laws at the local, state and federal levels. Primera is committed to meeting thehighest standards with the utmost respect for the safety and preservation of the surroundingenvironment and its residents.

Respectfully,

Primera Management