UN Unilever NV

Unilever United States today announced a product donation of over $2.6 million to aid in the personal care and feeding of those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The consumer goods giant is also pledging a direct cash donation of $1 million to support the relief and rebuilding effort for the victims of Hurricane Katrina that struck the U.S. Gulf Coast on August, 29, 2005. Unilever United States, which is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, is working with America's Second Harvest to get needed supplies to the American Red Cross as well as local shelters and food banks. A substantial donation of many of the company's products including approximately 100,000 bars of soap, 470,000 bottles of shampoo, 12,500 bottles of laundry detergent, 120,000 jars of peanut butter, 110,000 cups of soup, 375,000 cans of ready-to-drink nutritional shakes and 720,000 meal and snack bars will be donated immediately, with additional product donations to come over the next several weeks. In addition, Unilever will spilt its cash donation equally to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The company has also set up its own Katrina Disaster Fund that allows employees to voluntarily donate to either the American Red Cross or America's Second Harvest, with a company two-for-one match (two dollars for every one dollar contributed). "On behalf of Unilever employees in the United States, our thoughts remain with the many people impacted by this natural disaster," said John Rice, Unilever President of the Americas and head of the Unilever U.S. Foundation. "In addition to financial assistance, we want to do our part to address the growing health concern for those affected by providing our consumer products." Rice added, "It's our everyday mission to meet people's needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care, and we hope that through combined efforts, we can make recovery a little easier for all those affected by this tragic event." About Unilever Unilever (NYSE: UL, UN), one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs more than 15,000 people in 74 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico - generating approximately $10 billion in sales in 2004. For more information visit www.unileverusa.com.