Groupe DANONE Signs Agreements to Divest Certain Infant Nutrition Activities to Fulfill European Commission Requirements

07/05/08 As a condition for the approval of the acquisition of Numico, the European Commission required Groupe Danone to divest certain activities in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

This includes the baby milk and baby drink business of Numico in France, the export business of Bledina in Belgium and the Netherlands and the growing up milk brand “123” commercialized by Danone Belgium.All these activities represent less than 3% of Groupe Danone's infant nutrition worldwide activities.

In France, after having informed and consulted Numico's works council, Groupe Danone signed an agreement with the Lactalis Group to transfer the baby milk and baby drink business of Numico. Subject to both the approval of the European Commission and the authorization of the French Minister of Economy and Finance, the transaction could be closed in June 2008.

In Belgium and the Netherlands, an agreement was signed with the Hero Group to transfer the Bledina export business. This transaction could be closed in the coming weeks subject to the approval of the European Commission.In addition, Groupe Danone has finalized the sale in Benelux of the brand “123” to the Lactalis Group on April 30th 2008.