First Manhattan Issues Statement: Objects to Adjournment of VIVUS Annual Meeting

First Manhattan Co. (“FMC”), an owner-managed and operated investment advisory firm and the owner of approximately 9.9 percent of the outstanding shares of VIVUS, Inc. (“Vivus”) VVUS, today issued the following statement in response to Vivus adjourning their Annual Meeting of Stockholders: “First Manhattan vigorously objects to the actions taken by the Vivus Board to adjourn the annual meeting today without allowing stockholders the right to vote for the annual election of directors. We believe the adjournment is an outrageous attack on Vivus stockholders' right to vote and be heard on the important issues facing the company. “First Manhattan believes Vivus' stated reasons for adjourning the meeting are a pretext, lacking substance and a desperate act to delay an important vote on the future of the company. In addition, we believe that the Vivus Board lacked authority to adjourn the annual meeting without a stockholder vote to do so. We voted our shares against adjournment and reserve our right to challenge the adjournment and take any other action to protect the stockholders' right to be heard without delay. “We believe Vivus stockholders are fully informed about the issues in this proxy contest and should be allowed to vote today on the future of their investments. Vivus' sitting Board has wasted enough time and stockholder money in a blatant attempt to further entrench themselves. “We encourage Vivus' stockholders to vote their shares on the WHITE proxy card. If stockholders have already voted Vivus' gold proxy card, they can still vote the WHITE card. Every vote counts and every stockholder's vote is important no matter how many shares they own. Even if stockholders do not vote for all of our nominees, they should vote our WHITE proxy. Telephone, internet and ProxyEdge voting may not be available to all stockholders. Please call MacKenzie Partners at the number below for assistance.” You can find additional details regarding our nominees' strategic plan for value creation at http://www.ourmaterials.com/VVUS/. However, the execution of any strategic plan, including the hiring of any management personnel, will be subject to the fiduciary duties of the directors, if elected. If you have any questions, require assistance with voting your WHITE proxy card, or need additional copies of the proxy materials, please contact our proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at (212) 929-5500 or Toll-Free (800) 322-2885.