PRESS RELEASE: Barry Callebaut successfully closes acquisition of the Cocoa Ingredients Division from Petra Foods

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   July 01, 2013 11:32 ET (15:32 GMT)- - 11 32 AM EDT 07-01-13

-2 of 2- 01 Jul 2013 15:32:00 UTC  PRESS RELEASE: Barry Callebaut successfully closes acquisition of the Cocoa Ingredients Division from Petra Foods

Barry Callebaut / Barry Callebaut successfully closes acquisition of the Cocoa Ingredients Division from Petra Foods . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Creation of world's largest cocoa and chocolate manufacturer

-- Excellent strategic fit at the core of Barry Callebaut's existing business, supporting the company's overall growth

-- Creating the world's leading cocoa powder supplier, in addition to being the global leader in chocolate

-- Implementation of the integration master plan to start immediately, expected to be completed within 12-18 months

-- Purchase price approx. USD 860 million

-- Confirmed mid-term guidance as of consolidation: 6-8% average volume growth per year and EBIT per tonne restored to pre-acquisition level until 2015/16[1]

Zurich/Switzerland - July 1, 2013 - Barry Callebaut, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, successfully closed the acquisition of the Cocoa Ingredients Division from Singapore-based Petra Foods Ltd. as planned on June 30, 2013, following approval from the regulatory authorities. The combination of the two businesses makes Barry Callebaut the world's largest cocoa and chocolate manufacturer, fully integrated from bean sourcing to the manufacture of the finest chocolate products. It creates an organization with over 8,000 employees, an estimated annual sales volume of 1.6 million tonnes and CHF 6 billion (EUR 4.9 billion / USD 6.4 billion) in sales revenue, as well as further diversifying Barry Callebaut's global footprint to 50 factories on four continents.

Juergen Steinemann, Barry Callebaut's CEO, said: "The cocoa business we acquired from Petra Foods is right at the core of Barry Callebaut, and we will benefit from the know-how of our 1,800 new, highly motivated colleagues. It will support the further growth of our existing chocolate business. Being now also the largest global supplier of high-quality cocoa products, we will be able to capture opportunities in the fast-growing markets for specialty cocoa powders even better." Looking ahead, Mr. Steinemann added: "We are pleased that with the successful closing of the transaction, we can start to implement what we have prepared in the last six months and focus on the integration process."

Excellent strategic fit - Highly complementary business - Mutually reinforcing strengths

The acquisition of the Cocoa Ingredients Division is highly complementary to Barry Callebaut's existing business and will support the further growth of the company's chocolate business. It is a strategic investment and in line with Barry Callebaut's strategy based on the four pillars Expansion, Innovation, Cost Leadership and Sustainable Cocoa.

With the closing of the transaction, Barry Callebaut is broadening its offering to industrial chocolate, outsourcing and Gourmet customers and significantly expanding its sales volume in the fast-growing emerging markets. The acquisition will add comprehensive cocoa processing and powder blending expertise as well as a deep understanding of Asian and Latin American markets. It will also reinforce Barry Callebaut's cost leadership in cocoa processing by enlarging its footprint in cost-competitive production countries, partially replacing future investments in production capacities, while also enabling product flow optimizations. At the same time, Barry Callebaut will further diversify its cocoa sourcing and processing activities in origin countries by creating a second strong base in Asia, besides West Africa.

Integration of the newly acquired business

Since the signing of the transaction on December 12, 2012, a joint integration taskforce has developed a master plan to integrate Petra Foods' Cocoa Ingredients Division into Barry Callebaut. The implementation of the integration starts immediately and is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

Barry Callebaut will maintain its regional structure - including Region Europe (Western Europe and EEMEA), Region Americas and Region Asia-Pacific - and continue to run its cocoa business (now called 'Global Cocoa') globally. The newly acquired business will be integrated into Global Cocoa.

In terms of consolidation, two months of the former Cocoa Ingredients Division will be included in Barry Callebaut's annual reporting for fiscal year 2012/13 (ending August 31, 2013).

Financing of acquisition completed

Based on adjustments for working capital and other items, the purchase price for Petra Foods' Cocoa Ingredients Division will be approximately USD 860 million, subject to final adjustments following the closing.

For the financing of the acquisition, Barry Callebaut placed USD 400 million of senior notes due 2023 on June 13, 2013, with a 5.5% coupon. In addition, the company issued new registered shares on June 14, 2013, for USD 300 million utilizing the authorized share capital as approved by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on April 22, 2013. The new shares were placed through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure by way of a private placement. The remainder will be financed through the partial utilization of an existing bridge loan.

Confirmed new mid-term guidance as of consolidation

As announced on December 12, 2012, Barry Callebaut issued a new mid-term guidance valid as of consolidation, which is unchanged average volume growth of 6-8% per year until fiscal year 2015/16 and EBIT per tonne restored to Barry Callebaut's pre-acquisition level by the end of the same period, barring any major unforeseen events.

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Barry Callebaut (www.barry-callebaut.com):

With annual sales of about CHF 4.8 billion (EUR 4.0 billion / USD 5.2 billion) in fiscal year 2011/12, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products - from sourcing and transforming cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolate, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds. Combined with the recently acquired cocoa ingredients business from Petra Foods, Barry Callebaut generates estimated annual sales of CHF 6 billion (EUR 4.9 billion / USD 6.4 billion), runs around 50 production facilities worldwide, sells its products in over 100 countries and employs a diverse and dedicated workforce of more than 8,000 people.

Barry Callebaut serves the entire food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers. The two global brands catering to the specific needs of these customers are Callebaut(R) and Cacao Barry(R) .

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Contacts: for investors and financial analysts: for the media: Evelyn Nassar Raphael Wermuth Head of Investor Relations Head of Media Relations Barry Callebaut AG Barry Callebaut AG Phone: +41 43 204 04 23 Phone: +41 43 204 04 58 evelyn_nassar@barry-callebaut.com raphael_wermuth@barry-callebaut.com

[1] Barring any major unforeseen events.

The complete news release can be downloaded from the following link:

News Release (PDF): http://hugin.info/100441/R/1713245/568683.pdf

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(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the

information contained therein.

Source: Barry Callebaut via Thomson Reuters ONE

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Barry Callebaut

P.O. Box Zurich Switzerland

WKN: 914661;ISIN: CH0009002962;

http://www.barry-callebaut.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires

   July 01, 2013 11:32 ET (15:32 GMT)- - 11 32 AM EDT 07-01-13