Barry Callebaut reports results for fiscal year 2004/05

• Sales volume grew by 4.1% to 1,052,467 tonnes
• Strong fourth quarter for all business units
• As announced in July 2005, restructuring and impairment charges of CHF 94 million recognized in the accounts for the 4th quarter
• Prior to these restructuring and impairment charges:
• Operating profit before amortization (EBITA) up 6.4% to CHF 278.2 million
• Net profit up 40.4% to CHF 162.3 million; on a like-for-like basis up 20.2%
• In recognition of the strong operational performance of the industrial and artisanal businesses and an improved outlook for the consumer business, the Board of Directors proposes to the shareholders to increase the pay-out, in the form of a par value reduction and repayment, from CHF 7.80 to CHF 8.00 per share
• Andreas Schmid passes Chairmanship on to Andreas Jacobs and assumes function of Vice Chairman

Barry Callebaut AG, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, announced today its results for fiscal year 2004/05 ended August 31, 2005. Sales volumes grew by more than 4% to 1,052,467 tonnes even though certain unprofitable volumes in the German consumer business were deliberately discontinued during the course of the year. Primarily due to lower cocoa bean prices and negative currency effects, sales revenue increased by 0.3% to CHF 4,061.1 million. Sales volumes and sales revenue were both partly influenced by the first-time consolidation of AM Foods acquired in September 2004. Fluctuations in cocoa bean prices, however, have no meaningful impact on Barry Callebaut’s profitability due to its business model. As announced on July 8, 2005, the restructuring program in Consumer Products Europe was intensified. The consequent restructuring expenses of CHF 49 million in cash and CHF 45 million in impairments and write-downs on fixed and current assets were charged to the income statement for the fourth quarter. Excluding this one-time effect, operating profit before amortization (EBITA) went up by 6.4% to CHF 278.2 million. Net profit (PAT) strongly increased by 40.4% to CHF 162.3 million, partly due to a change in IFRS accounting standards. On a like-for-like basis, the increase of PAT was 20.2%, resulting in a PAT of CHF 138.9 million on a pro forma basis. Including restructuring and impairment charges, stated net profit amounts to CHF 68.3 million.

Patrick De Maeseneire, CEO of Barry Callebaut, said: “Barry Callebaut has increased its operating results before restructuring expenses and impairment charges for the seventh year in a row since our Initial Public Offering in 1998. We are satisfied with our results for the past fiscal year, and we are pleased that Barry Callebaut has been able to significantly grow the value created for our shareholders. The operating performance of our business units serving industrial and professional customers continued to be strong throughout the year, and our Consumer Products unit in Europe also had a satisfactory 4th quarter.”

Overview of business performance in fiscal year 2004/05
Total sales volumes of products sold to third-party customers increased by 41,109 tonnes or 4.1% to 1,052,467 tonnes. After elimination of the effect of the AM Foods acquisition, sales volumes increased organically by 2.7%. The Industrial business segment recorded strong growth of 5.8% whereas the Food Service & Retail business segment recorded a slight decrease in volumes as a result of further SKU (stock keeping units) reductions, the discontinuation of unprofitable business volumes, a highly competitive market situation in the U.S. (fruit snacks) and a downturn in Africa. Volume growth amounted to 5% in Europe and 4% in the Americas; volumes decreased by 1% in the rest of the world, where the strong growth recorded in Asia-Pacific could not make up for the decrease in the African countries.

Revenue from sales and services increased 0.3% to CHF 4,061.1 million, compared to CHF 4,048.9 million in the previous year. The first-time consolidation of AM Foods contributed a net amount of CHF 51.9 million to sales revenue, yet this growth was almost entirely offset by the impact of lower cocoa bean prices and negative exchange rate movements on sales revenue, mainly involving the Euro and U.S. dollar against the CHF. Organically, the Cocoa and Food Manufacturers business units showed a strong increase in sales revenue.

Operating profit before amortization (EBITA) and prior to restructuring and impairment charges is CHF 278.2 million, up 6.4% from CHF 261.5 million in the previous year. – Restructuring expenses and impairment charges on assets of a total of CHF 94 million reflect non-recurring charges for the restructuring program communicated in July 2005. This program includes impairments and write-downs on fixed and current assets of CHF 45 million and provisions to cover restructuring-related cash expenses of CHF 49 million, including costs for employee severance payments. –Operating profit before amortization (EBITA) and after restructuring and impairment charges was

CHF 184.2 million. The Consumer Products Europe business unit was impacted by an amount of approximately CHF 25 million due to the record-high hazelnut prices.

Net financial cost was reduced by 10.0% to CHF 83.2 million, down from CHF 92.4 million in the previous year. This decrease was mainly attributable to lower interest rates compared to the prior-year period, helped by some favorable exchange rate movements.

Taxes amounted to CHF 20.4 million, compared to CHF 19.4 million in the previous year.

Net profit prior to the CHF 94 million restructuring and impairment charges increased by 40.4% to CHF 162.3 million, partly due to changes in the accounting standards. Eliminating this effect, net profit on a pro forma basis stands at CHF 138.9 million, up 20.2% compared to the prior year’s net profit of CHF 115.6 million. Including restructuring and impairment charges, net profit as stated in the Annual Report amounts to CHF 68.3 million.

Earnings per share stand at CHF 31.39, up 40.4% from CHF 22.36 last year. Eliminating the effect of the above-mentioned change in accounting standards and including the one-time effect of the restructuring program, earnings per share amount to CHF 13.20 as stated in the Annual Report.

On August 31, 2005, the Group employed a workforce of 8,542 people.
Please refer to the Annual Report 2004/05 for further details.

Proposals to the Annual General Meeting

Board of Directors
All Board members stand for re-election for another term of office of one year. Andreas Schmid, having served as Chairman for seven years, four of which as Chairman & CEO, expressed his desire to pass the Chairmanship on to Andreas Jacobs. The Board of Directors asked him to assume the function of Vice Chairman. The Board would like to thank Andreas Schmid for the many years of dedication and commitment during which he successfully shaped the strategy and direction of the company, and is looking forward to continuing the cooperation. Furthermore, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Mr. Stefan Pfander, Chairman Europe of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in Chicago, be elected as a new Board member.

Par value reduction in lieu of a dividend
Instead of a dividend payment the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting of December 8, 2005 to reduce the share capital of the company by CHF 41,360,000 from CHF 476,674,000 to CHF 435,314,000 through the reduction of the par value per share from CHF 92.20 to CHF 84.20, and to amend the respective provision of the articles of association. The par value reduction of CHF 8.00 per share (last year: CHF 7.80) will be paid out to our shareholders free of costs and net of withholding tax in March 2006.

Outlook
Patrick De Maeseneire, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the prospects for the current fiscal year 2005/06: “We consider innovation in combination with cost leadership the two cornerstones of future profitable growth, complemented by geographic expansion. In October, we inaugurated our new chocolate factory on the U.S. West Coast; we are planning to build a new chocolate plant near Moscow, which will become operational in early 2007; and we are reviewing the acquisition of an existing, modern chocolate factory in China as well as options for our own cocoa processing capacities in Asia-Pacific. This expansion into high-growth markets will allow us to increase the share of sales generated in regions other than Western Europe and North America from 11% to 20% between now and 2010. In our industrial business we have a strong contract portfolio, and in Consumer Products Europe we are determined to return to profitability this fiscal year. On this solid foundation, we will continue growing twice as fast as the global chocolate markets, and we confirm our earlier financial targets.”

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Barry Callebaut:
With annual sales of more than CHF 4 billion for fiscal year 2004/05, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products – from the cocoa bean to the finished product on the store shelf. Barry Callebaut operates more than 30 production facilities in 23 countries and employs more than 8,000 people. The company serves the entire food industry, from food manufacturers to professional users of chocolate (such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs or bakers), to global retailers. It also provides a comprehensive range of services in the fields of product development, processing, training and marketing.