COMPETITION AUTHORITY APPROVED ACQUISITI
HK Ruokatalo Oyj STOCK EXCHANGE BULLETIN 24 Jan. 2003, 3.40pm 1(1)
COMPETITION AUTHORITY APPROVED ACQUISITION OF KOIVISTON TEURASTAMO
The Finnish Competition Authority FCA has approved unconditionally the
acquisition, as a result of which HK Ruokatalo Oyj acquires the entire
share capital of Koiviston Teurastamo Oy. Koiviston Teurastamo is
Finland's seventh largest meat company. It reported a pre-tax profit
of EUR 2.5 million for year 2001 on a turnover of EUR 35.2 million.
Koiviston Teurastamo employs about 50 people and it's production
facilities at Mellilä, near Loimaa in southwest Finland rank among the
most modern in the country.
The deal will generate major industrial synergetic benefits to HK
Ruokatalo and considerably strengthen the availability of domestic raw
meat material. Conversely, Koiviston Teurastamo will gain access to HK
Ruokatalo's marketing channels in an environment where retailer
concatenation calls for nationwide goods deliveries.
Koiviston Teurastamo will become a HK Ruokatalo subsidiary and its
business will continue to be run under the company's present managing
director, Risto Koivisto. The arrangement will have no direct impact
on Koiviston Teurastamo employees.
Koiviston Teurastamo specialises in the procurement and slaughter of
pork. After the aquisition HK Ruokatalo Group's procurement of pork
from Finland rises from about 60 million kg to over 75 million kg on a
year level.
HK Ruokatalo Oyj
Simo Palokangas
Chief executive officer
DISTRIBUTION:
Helsinki Exchanges
Internet: www.hk-ruokatalo.fi