Mergers & Acquisitions & Joint Ventures - Brief Article

Buyer                     Target                Country
Leonidas                  Deva de Trebisov      Belgium/Slovakia
Simplot                   Nestle                US/Switzerland
ICA/Ekovalda              Vikonda               Sweden/Lithuania
Baltic Food Holding       Spar Lithuania        Lithuania/Sweden
                                                 /Norway
Nabisco                   PDQuick               US
Wal-Mart Europe/Asda      AOL UK                EU/UK

Cadbury Schweppes         Kraft Foods           UK/US/France
Leprino                   Glanbia               US/Eire
Vimm-Bill-Dann            Dairy Combine         Russia
Unilever                  Swirl's               UK/NL
San Miguel                RFM                   Philippines

Buyer                     Remarks

Leonidas                  Belgian chocolate firm
                          Leonidas buys struggling
                          Slovakian confectioner Deva

Simplot                   Swiss giant divests its
                          frozen potato business,
                          as well as acquiring two
                          mineral water companies
                          in South Africa. The move
                          confirms the groups
                          concentration on strategic
                          businesses.

ICA/Ekovalda              ICA's Lithuanian joint
                          venture partner has acquired
                          twelve food stores from
                          compatriot firm Vikonda.
                          The acquisition increases
                          Ekovalda's store portfolio
                          to 46 in Lithuania, and ICA's
                          to over 4 600 across Scandinavia
                          and the Baltic region.

Baltic Food Holding       Lithuanian subsidiary of
                          German retailer Spar has
                          been acquired by Baltic food
                          holding, a company backed by
                          Swedish and Norwegian interests.
                          It plans to expand further its
                          presence in the Baltic state.

Wal-Mart Europe/Asda      US-based food company signs
                          two-year deal with online
                          delivery firm to be primary
                          supplier of cookies, snacks
                          and other products

Cadbury Schweppes         UK supermarket chain will
                          distribute AOL start-up
                          packages in its stores.
                          In return, Asda will feature
                          in AOL's shopping channels,
                          and both companies will run
                          promotions online and offline.

Leprino                   UK confectionery and drinks
                          giant acquires Kraft Foods'
                          chewing gum business in France,
                          including several well established
                          brands as well as manufacturing
                          sites and distribution channels
                          Global leading pizza cheese
                          producer Leprino foods of the
                          US in joint venture with
                          European leader Glanbia.
                          Leprino has bought a 49% stake
                          in the Irish group in a deal
                          worth 127.5 m [pounds sterling]
                          and will expand their presence
                          on the European continent.

Vimm-Bill-Dann            Russian production and trading
                          company announces its intention
                          to buy the remaining share
                          of the Dairy Combine in Timashevsk.
                          The company currently owns a
                          40% share and plans to invest
                          around US$5.5m (6 m [European Dollar])
                          in modernising the plant, which is
                          one of Russia's largest dairy operations.

Unilever                  Unilever announces plans to acquire
                          Duthc ice cream manufacturer Swirl's
                          including 32 outlets which also
                          sell milkshkes and waffles

                          The two companies intend to expand
                          in the food business and have been
                          in talks discussing possibilities
                          of a joint venture

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