AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG

M&A Activity • Dec 11, 2003

News Details

Ad-hoc | 11 December 2003 08:14

AGRANA Plans Gradual Takeover of ATYS Group (France)

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– AGRANA Plans Gradual Takeover of ATYS Group (France) AGRANA, Vienna, und Butler Capital Partners, Paris, hereby announce that they are engaged in negotiations regarding the gradual takeover of the ATYS Group, domiciled in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, France, by AGRANA, and that those negotiations are at an advanced stage. The ATYS Group is the world market leader in fruit preparations for use by the processing and manufacturing industries. The group has annual turnover of approximately EUR 400 million and operates 20 factories in 16 countries spread across all five continents. It employs roughly 2,200 people. ATYS was set up in 1965 and acquired by Butler Capital Partners from Pernod- Ricard in May 2002. The ATYS Group,s management participated in that transaction by acquiring a stake in the company. AGRANA intends to take over 100% of the ATYS Group in four stages to be completed by the end of 2006. An agreement should be signed at the end of January 2004, subject to the approval of the relevant competition authorities. By acquiring the ATYS Group, AGRANA will be taking another important step forward in the fruit juice concentrates and fruit juice preparations segments. It has already acquired Vallø Saft and Steirerobst. http://www.agrana.com http://www.atys-group.com end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 11.12.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 060370; ISIN: AT0000603709; Index: Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Wien 110814 Dez 03