VERKOOP VAN WESSANEN'S DOCHTER RIGHI AAN HET MANAGEMENT EN EEN INVESTEERDER

Sale of Wessanen’s subsidiary Righi to the management and a private investor
Amsterdam, 31 December 2009

Holland Corporate Finance is pleased to announce that Royal Wessanen N.V. has successfully sold its subsidiary Righi S.r.L. to the management of the company and a private investor.

Royal Wessanen is a multinational food corporation, with a turnover of over EUR 1.6bn in 2008, based in the Netherlands and listed on the Amsterdam Euronext. The company is active in sourcing, producing, marketing and distributing high-quality organic, natural and specialty food products in North America and Europe. Royal Wessanen is refocusing its strategy and is involved in a major restructuring of its company portfolio.

In May 2009 Holland Corporate Finance became aware that Royal Wessanen had decided to sell its Italian and German subsidiaries Righi and Karl Kemper because of a lack of synergies with the frozen snack activities of Royal Wessanen in the Benelux. Holland Corporate Finance introduced Arietti & Partners and Angermann to assist Royal Wessanen in the disposal processes. The Italian and German members of M&A International Inc. won both sell side mandates.

The sale Karl Kemper in October 2009 is now being followed by the sale of the Italian Righi to the management of the company and a private investor. Righi is specialized in the production of oven-ready frozen products, particularly those typical of the Emilian traditional cuisine. The company’s products can be divided into three main categories: savoury pies (made of puff-pastry dough with different fillings), snacks (such as salatini, pizzette and panzerottini that are used in banqueting) and filled egg pasta products.

After the successful sale of Righi and Karl Kemper Wessanen’s frozen food activities are now ready to focus on improving its position in the Benelux market.

Holland Corporate Finance, Arietti and Angermann have been delighted to join forces to advise Royal Wessanen and prove once again the value and the competitive advantage of the M&A International Inc. alliance.

Ruud van Hoek of Holland Corporate Finance originated the mandate.