ATRIA GROUP PLC CONFIRMS THE ACQUISITION OF AS VALGA LIHATÖÖSTUS Atria Group plc, the largest meat product manufacturer in the Baltic Sea region, has today signed a definitive agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of the Estonian company AS Valga Lihatööstus. The Finnish Competition Authority has cleared the acquisition. AS Valga Lihatööstus is the second largest beef and pork processing company in Estonia. Valga's share of the Estonian meat products market is about 15 per cent, and Valga products are sold through all the major food retail chains in Estonia. In addition, Valga has established a strong position in Latvia, where it has secured agreements with, e.g., the Rimi and Citymarket chains. Valga was privatised in 1994, and since then, the company has performed well and generated profit. In 2003, Valga's turnover amounted to EUR 20.9 million, and its post tax profit stood at EUR 527,000. ATRIA GROUP PLC Seppo Paatelainen President DISTRIBUTION Helsinki Stock Exchange Principal media www.atria.fi
Stock exchange releases | 31.1.2005