FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of July, 2008
UNILEVER N.V.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
WEENA 455, 3013 AL, P.O. BOX 760, 3000 DK, ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Exhibit 99 attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
UNILEVER N.V.
|
|
/S/ P J CESCAU
By P J CESCAU
DIRECTOR
|
|
/S/ J A LAWRENCE
By J A LAWRENCE
DIRECTOR
|
Date: 28 July 2008
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99
Notice to Euronext, Amsterdam dated 28 July 2008
Unilever to sell North American laundry business
Exhibit 99
UNILEVER AGREES TO SELL NORTH
AMERICAN LAUNDRY BUSINESS TO VESTAR CAPITAL
PARTNERS
Unilever today announced that it has signed a definitive
agreement to sell its North American laundry
business in US, Canada and Puerto Rico to Vestar Capital
Partners.
Vestar Capital Partners (Vestar) is a leading global
private equity firm. Vestar will merge the business with its existing operation, Huish
Detergents Inc., to form a new company, The Sun Products Corporation (Sun
Products).
The consideration consists of a cash
payment of $1.075 billion, together with preferred shares in The Sun Products
Corporation with a face value of
$375 million, and
warrants offering the opportunity to acquire up to 2.5% of the common equity of The Sun
Products Corporation.
The businesses to be sold include the
all
®
, Snuggle
®
,
Wisk
®
,
Surf
®,
and
Sunlight
®
fabric cleaning and fabric
conditioning brands in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as Unilever's manufacturing
facility in Baltimore, MD, USA.
Patrick Cescau,
Unilever's Group Chief Executive, said: "We have reached a good
deal for both Unilever shareholders and the business. It
puts our North American laundry people and brands into
a company which is focused on the laundry category and which, with its new
combined portfolio, is well-positioned to become a strong
player in their market.
"Laundry remains an important category for
Unilever outside North America. This transaction will allow us to
focus our resources on our leading positions in Europe, Asia, Africa
and Latin America where we continue to drive for expanded leadership."
Both Unilever and Vestar will seek to
ensure a seamless transition of the business for retail customers
throughout US, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The US, Canada and Puerto
Rico laundry business generated $1.0 billion in turnover for Unilever in
2007.
The sale is part of
Unilever's previously announced plans to dispose of non-strategic brands with
collectively more than €2 billion in turnover.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval,
is expected to close in 2008.
-ends-
July 28th, 2008
For further information, please contact:
Unilever Media
Relations
Unilever
US:
Anita Larsen
+1 201 894
7760
Unilever
London: Trevor
Gorin
+ 44 20 7822 6010
Unilever
Rotterdam: Gerbert van
Genderen-Stort +
31 10 217 4844
Unilever Investor
Relations
Unilever
London:
+44 207 822 6830
Vestar Capital Partners and Huish
Detergents:
Owen Blicksilver Public
Relations: Carol
Makovich +1
203 622 4781
Kristin
Celauro
+1 732 291 5456
Notes to editors:
-
Major Unilever laundry brands outside
North America include Omo, Persil, Ala, Skip, Radiant, Coral, Robijn,
Comfort, Rin, Wheel and Surf.
Unilever Safe Harbour:
This announcement may contain forward-looking
statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results, including financial objectives
to 2010, and their negatives are intended to identify such
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon
current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and
other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are
they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing
and activities, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage
key customer relationships and supply chain sources, currency values,
interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned
divestitures, the ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical
risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters
and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and
regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic
markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the
Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group
are described in the Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext
Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report
& Accounts on Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the
Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
About Unilever
Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We
meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people
feel good, look good and get more out of life.
Unilever is one of the world's leading
suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries
across the globe. Its portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved
brands including twelve €1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in
which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as Knorr, Lipton,
Hellmann's, Flora, Breyer's, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Degree,
Axe, Suave, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and Domestos.
Unilever has around 174,000 employees in
approaching 100 countries and generated annual sales of over €40 billion in
2007. For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit
www.unilever.com
About Vestar Capital
Partners
Vestar Capital Partners is a leading
global private equity firm with $7 billion in assets under management. The firm
focuses on companies in the U.S., Europe and Japan with valuations of $100
million to $5 billion and operations in five key industry sectors: consumer/services,
diversified industries, healthcare, media/communication, and financial services.
Since the firm's founding in 1988, the Vestar funds have completed 65 investments in
companies with a total value of more than $20 billion. For more information, please
visit
www.vestarcapital.com
.
About
Huish
Huish
Detergents has been producing private label laundry detergent and household cleaners since
1976. Today, the company is the largest manufacturer of private label laundry
detergents and fabric softener in North America. In addition, the company
produces the Sun line of branded detergent products. Huish Detergents focuses on high
efficiency, low cost and high quality in the manufacture of all of its laundry
products. For more information, go to www.huish.com.
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