Natra and Barry Callebaut sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the combination of their European consumer chocolate businesses

* The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding
whereby Barry Callebaut would transfer its consumer chocolate
division, Stollwerck, to Natra
* Natra, as a result of the transaction, would become a significant
private label chocolate maker in Europe with 2008 pro forma sales
of around ¤850 million/CHF 1,270 million
* Barry Callebaut would focus on its core business with industrial
and artisanal customers while becoming a minority shareholder of
Natra
* Barry Callebaut would supply a minimum of 85,000 tonnes p.a. of
liquid chocolate to Natra under a long-term outsourcing contract
* The transaction is subject to certain conditions, in particular
secured long-term financing

Valencia, Spain / Zurich, Switzerland, March 3, 2009.- NATRA,
European reference private label chocolate player, and BARRY
CALLEBAUT, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and
chocolate products, have signed a memorandum of understanding
regarding the possible integration of Barry Callebaut's European
consumer chocolate business (Stollwerck) into Natra.

The combination of the two businesses would create a significant
private label and third-party chocolate products maker in Europe with
estimated annual sales of around ¤850 million/CHF 1,270 million,
according to pro forma combined figures for 2008, a share of 2.0% of
the entire European cocoa and chocolate market and a pro forma
production output of around 215,000 tonnes in 2008.

Press, investors and financial
analysts

Natra
Ana Roldán
Phone: +34 96 393 32 65
ana.roldan@natra.es

Barry Callebaut AG

Investors and financial analysts Media

Simone Lalive, Head of IR Gaby Tschofen, VP Corp.
Phone: +41 43 204 04 23 Communications
simone_lalive@barry-callebaut.com Phone: +41 43 204 04 60
gaby_tschofen@barry-callebaut.com

The news release can be downloaded from the following link:

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