ATRIA GROUP PLC CONFIRMS THE ACQUISITION OF AS VALGA LIHATÖÖSTUS

ATRIA GROUP PLC STOCK EXHANGE RELEASE 31 JANUARY 2005, 12:00 PM
        

ATRIA GROUP PLC CONFIRMS THE ACQUISITION OF AS VALGA LIHATÖÖSTUS

Atria Group plc, the largest meat product manufacturer in the Baltic Sea region, 
has today signed a definitive agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital 
of the Estonian company AS Valga Lihatööstus. The Finnish Competition Authority 
has cleared the acquisition. 

AS Valga Lihatööstus is the second largest beef and pork processing company in 
Estonia. Valga's share of the Estonian meat products market is about 15 per cent, 
and Valga products are sold through all the major food retail chains in Estonia. 
In addition, Valga has established a strong position in Latvia, where it has secured 
agreements with, e.g., the Rimi and Citymarket chains.

Valga was privatised in 1994, and since then, the company has performed well and 
generated profit. In 2003, Valga's turnover amounted to EUR 20.9 million, and its 
post tax profit stood at EUR 527,000. 


ATRIA GROUP PLC

Seppo Paatelainen
President


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www.atria.fi