HK RUOKATALO AND DANISH CROWN?S JOINT VE
HK Ruokatalo Oyj STOCK EXCHANGE BULLETIN 17 SEPTEMBER 2004 AT 17.50PM
HK RUOKATALO AND DANISH CROWNS JOINT VENTURE TO MAKE A PUBLIC OFFER FOR SOKOLÓW SHARES HK Ruokatalo and Danish Crowns joint venture, Saturn Nordic Holding AB, has submitted a public offer to the Polish securities market to buy the remaining shares in Polands leading meat company, Sokolów S.A. The price offered per share is PLN 6.00 (appr. 1.38). The subscription period will commence on 24 September 2004 and expire on 25 October 2004. Under Polish stock exchange legislation, an owner becoming a majority shareholder is required to make a public offer to the other shareholders to acquire their shares. Saturn Nordic Holding currently owns 52.64 per cent of the Sokolów shares listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The offer applies to all shares not currently owned by Saturn Nordic Holding. Sokolow has issued a total 100,194,134 shares, with each share conveying one vote. The public offer is a further step in the strategic cooperation between HK Ruokatalo and Danish Crown to consolidate ownership and control of Polands leading meat company. HK Ruokatalo is executing in Sokolów its short and long term strategy regarding meat processing in the Eastern and Central Europe. HK Ruokatalo trusts joint ownership will foster Sokolóws further good progress by enhancing its business profile, growth and expansion on the local and international markets maintaining the status of an independent entity. HK Ruokatalo Oyj Simo Palokangas CEO DISTRIBUTION: Helsinki Exchanges Main media www.hk-ruokatalo.fi