September 30th, 2001: Dr Allen McClay retires as chairman and president of Galen, the group he founded in 1968. He holds a 20.57 per cent stake in the firm.

January 2002: Buys Chemical Synthesis Services from Galen for around £25 million.

January 2002: Sells 5.06 million shares, reducing his holding to 17.8 per cent.

May 2002: Buys Clinical Trials Supplies for £130 million.

May 2002: Sells 12.87 million Galen shares raising £65 million and cutting stake to 10.75 per cent.

August 2002: Buys Interactive Clinical Technologies, the last part of Galen's pharmaceutical services arm for £10.5 million.

November 2002: Sells 2.53 million Galen shares raising £13.5 million.

July 2003: Sells 700,000 Galen shares for £4.9 million the day before merger talks with Barr Labs collapse.

December 2003: Buys Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing Services for £20 million

December 2003: Sells 4.28 million shares in Galen, retaining 6.3 per cent stake.

April 2004: Sells remaining 6.3 per cent stake in Galen for £97 million.

April 2004: Buys British drug sales and marketing business for £40 million.