KKO International

Earnings Release • Dec 11, 2017

Press release Regulated information

THE 2017/2018 SEASON GETS UNDERWAY

Excellent first week's harvest

Paris & Brussels, December 11, 2017 (5.45 pm) – KKO INTERNATIONAL (BE0974284169 – ALKKO.BR – PEA-PME), a world leader in the innovative production of cocoa, has announced the beginning of its 2017/2018 season with an excellent first week of harvesting.

Arriving late, the rain season only finished at the end of October, which postponed the ripening of the cocoa pods. This had the knock-on effect of delaying the start of the 2017 harvest, which began at the end of November. This was in contrast to last year, when harvesting was able to begin in October. However, in view of the new protocols put in place by the Group, coupled with very good rainfall levels in recent weeks, the results of the first week of harvesting are most encouraging for the 2017/2018 season.

The results generated in recent months are showing a low plant mortality rate, below 5%, much lower than the national level currently being experienced in Ivory Coast. Productivity has risen sharply, too, thereby supporting our longer-term production target of achieving 3 to 4 kg of dried cocoa beans per mature productive tree. The trees in production are yielding 20 to 120 cocoa pods each, depending on their maturity. As a reminder, 20 to 25 pods are required to produce 1 kg of cocoa beans. The pods harvested contain an average of 45 beans, with a granulometry of between 85 and 105, depending on maturity (the standard required by the grinders must be under 107). In view of these results, the aim now is to homogenise our planting so that we get at least 80% productive trees.

As a further reminder, the field's edge price was set at 700 FCFA for the 2017/2018 season by the Coffee-Cocoa Council.

"We are very pleased with the early results of the 2017/2018 harvest," said Rémy Allemane, Chief Executive Officer of the SOLEA subsidiary in Ivory Coast. "We are demonstrating that it is possible to grow cocoa intensively while respecting both the environment and the local communities by being innovative. Indeed, our Research and Development has enabled us to cultivate plant material of high quality, developped directly in our own stockyard. This will enable us to intensify our cropping land while guaranteeing highquality beans. Our operations are also a major tool in the fight against deforestation in Ivory Coast."

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About KKO INTERNATIONAL

World production of cocoa, nowadays mainly small scaled, does not allow food industrials/manufacturers to be supplied with consistent quality and quantity. KKO INTERNATIONAL, pioneer in intensive agriculture, brings an ingenious solution to the growing global demand. In less than 3 years, the staffs of SOLEA, production subsidiary of KKO INTERNATIONAL based in Ivory Coast, have managed to develop innovative agricultural techniques, including a dripping irrigation system at the foot of each plant, significantly improving the production of cocoa beans. With a strong local involvement, the company is a socially responsible business model (RainForest Alliance Certification) and holds a surface of 2,403 hectares including 1,549 hectares in operation. As Africa's largest cocoa plantation, SOLEA aims to grow 3,000 hectares to produce a high-quality cocoa bean year-round. SOLEA is thus set to become a natural and favorite partner of the chocolate industry. www.kko-international.com

KKO INTERNATIONAL info@kko-international.com

CALYPTUS

Sophie Boulila/Grégory Bosson kko-international@calyptus.net Ph.: + 33 (0)1 53 65 68 62