Avantium Appoints Gunnar Staaf as CEO Pharma

Strengthening of Leadership Team to Prepare Pharma Business for Spin-Out

AMSTERDAM, December 16 - Today, Avantium announced the appointment of Gunnar Staaf as
Chief Executive Officer of its pharmaceutical business. Gunnar Staaf
previously worked at Serentis Ltd, Astellas Pharma, Novartis and Eli Lilly &
Company, in a range of commercial and executive positions. The appointment is
an important step in Avantium's plan to spin-out its pharmaceutical business.
The company intends to create a stand-alone pharmaceutical company based on
its offering of proprietary crystallization services and systems to customers
in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector as well as the development of
improved forms of existing drugs. After the spin-out of its pharmaceutical
business, Avantium will focus on its cleantech and chemicals activities,
including its Furanics bioplastics and biofuels program and offering of
high-throughput catalysis services & systems.

Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium, commented: "With his background
in the pharmaceutical industry and wealth of commercial experience, Gunnar is
a tremendous addition to our company. The appointment of Gunnar is an
important step towards a focused pharmaceutical company. Under Gunnar's
leadership we believe that our Pharma business will accelerate the
development of improved drug forms, and will further strengthen our position
as a leading solid-state research services & systems provider."

Upon his appointment Gunnar Staaf commented: "I am pleased to
join Avantium at this exciting stage. The company has an excellent
technological position and expertise in crystallization research and is a
leading provider of services & systems in this area. The technology forms a
strong basis for the development of novel forms and formulations of existing
drugs. I am convinced that we have all the ingredients to become a dedicated
and successful pharmaceutical company."

About Avantium

Avantium is a leading technology company in the area of
advanced high-throughput R&D operating in the energy, chemicals and
pharmaceutical industries. The company develops products and processes in the
area of biofuels, bio-based chemicals and novel crystal forms of existing
drugs by applying its proprietary, high-throughput R&D technology.

Avantium has demonstrated the potential of this technology by
providing R&D services and tools to more than 70 companies worldwide.
Avantium's customer base includes many of the world's largest energy,
chemicals and pharmaceutical companies, such as BP, Shell, Sasol, Pfizer and
GSK. Avantium has more than 100 employees; its offices and head quarters are
based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

For more information

Please visit our website www.avantium.com

For more information: Please contact Mariette Hoogendoorn at +31-20-586-8010