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RNS Number : 4109X
Unilever PLC
06 December 2010
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UNILEVER COMPLETES SARA LEE PERSONAL CARE &
EUROPEAN LAUNDRY ACQUISITION
December 6th, 2010, London & Rotterdam - Unilever today confirmed that, further
to its announcement on 17 November 2010 related to the completion of European
Commission regulatory process, it has completed the acquisition of the Sara Lee
Personal Care and European Laundry business.
The European Competition Authorities approval was contingent upon the
divestiture of the Sanex brand in the European Economic Area.
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About Unilever
Unilever works to create a better future every day. We help people feel good,
look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for
them and good for others.
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods
with strong operations in more than 100 countries and sales in 170. Unilever
products are present in more than half the households on the planet and are used
over two billion times a day.
Our portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands
including eleven EUR1 billion brands, and global leadership in many categories in
which we operate. The portfolio features iconic brands such as: Knorr,
Hellmann's, Lipton, Dove, Vaseline, Persil, Cif, Marmite and Pot Noodle.
We have around 163,000 employees in approaching 100 countries, and generated
annual sales of EUR40 billion in 2009. For more information about Unilever and
its brands, please visit www.unilever.com
Unilever is Food Industry Leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes
for the 12th year running. We are included in the FTSE4Good Index Series and
attained a top environmental score of 5, leading to inclusion in the FTSE4Good
Environmental Leaders Europe 40 Index. We are also ranked 7th in the Global 100
Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, a list compiled by Corporate Knights
Magazine. We achieved Platinum Plus standard in the UK's Business in the
Community Corporate Responsibility Index 2009, and were named Company of the
Year in 2010.
About the acquisition
Unilever is paying EUR1.2 billion in cash for the Sara Lee Personal Care and
European Laundry business. The Sara Lee brands which will be acquired generated
annual sales in excess of EUR750 million for the year ending June 2009.
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', 'believes' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results, 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, economic slowdown, industry
consolidation, access to credit markets, recruitment levels, reputational risks,
commodity prices, continued availability of raw materials, prioritisation of
projects, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key
customer relationships and supply chain sources, consumer demands, 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
20-F Report and the Annual Report and Accounts 2009. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this document. 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.
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