Shire : Messages to AbbVie and Shire Employees

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

For immediate release September 29, 2014

Messages to AbbVie Inc. ("AbbVie") and Shire plc ("Shire") Employees

On September 29, 2014, a message from Richard A. Gonzalez, Chairman and CEO of AbbVie, was distributed to Shire employees, and a message from Chris C. Turek, Vice President, Enterprise Strategies at AbbVie, was distributed to AbbVie employees, following meetings between members of AbbVie and Shire management. Copies of these communications are available on AbbVie's website at:http://www.abbvieinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251551&p=irol-disclaimer-documents.

In accordance with Rule 30.4 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement can be found on AbbVie's website athttp://www.abbvieinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251551&p=irol-disclaimer-documents.

Enquiries:

AbbVie investor contacts

Liz Shea (Tel: +1 847 935 2211)

AbbVie media contacts

Adelle Infante (Tel: +1 847 938 8745)

About AbbVie

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in January 2013

following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise,

dedicated people and approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that

address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. AbbVie employs approximately

25,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. AbbVie is traded on

the New York Stock Exchange under "ABBV". Additional information is available on the

company's website atwww.abbvieinvestor.com.

The directors of AbbVie accept responsibility for the information contained in this document and, to the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and it does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

Disclosures are therefore required in the shares of AbbVie and Shire plc.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Takeover Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

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