Orkla Brands sells Guseppe

Orkla Brands is selling its shareholding in Guseppe. The company
acquiring the shares is Dr. Oetker. Under the agreement, Dr. Oetker
will take over 100 per cent of the shares in Guseppe.

Orkla Brands is selling its shareholding in Guseppe. The company
acquiring the shares is Dr. Oetker. Under the agreement, Dr. Oetker
will take over 100 per cent of the shares in Guseppe.


Guseppe produces frozen pizzas and frozen, ready-to-use products,
primarily for the Czech and Slovak markets. The company has its
production plant in Rokytnice in the Czech Republic. In 2007, the
company had a turnover of CZK 241 million (NOK 70 million) and
178 employees.

Orkla Brands took over the Czech company Guseppe in 1998. Since then,
production, distribution and administration at Guseppe have been
extensively reorganised, and the company's portfolio is now
concentrated on a smaller number of more profitable products.

"Nevertheless, we are not satisfied with our market position and
financial performance on the Czech and the Slovak markets. We
therefore believe that a new owner, who already has substantial
operations in this category, will be able to develop the company,"
says Paul Jordahl, Managing Director of Orkla Brands International.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. They have
the intention to complete the transaction within the next weeks.

Dr. Oetker is an international company headquartered in Germany. The
company is represented in Western and Eastern Europe, as well as in
Canada and Brazil. Dr. Oetker sells frozen pizza in 26 countries and
is also a major player in categories such as baking products and
desserts.

Orkla Brands International  consists of SladCo and Krupskaya
(Russia), Orkla Foods Romania, Guseppe (Czech  Republic), Kotlin and
Elbro (Poland), Felix Austria (Austria) and MTR Foods (India). Total
operating revenues for Orkla Brands International were NOK 2,262
million in 2007, and at year-end it employed the equivalent of 6,047
man-years. Orkla Brands International is part of the Orkla Brands
business area, which is a leading developer, marketer and supplier of
strong, proprietary brands and concepts. In 2007, Orkla Brands had
operating revenues of NOK 22,253 million and employed a workforce
equivalent to 15,000 man-years.


For further information, please contact:
Paul Jordahl, Managing Director Orkla Brands International, tel: +
46 703 354 197
HÃ¥kon Mageli, Director Corporate Affairs, Orkla Brands, tel: + 47 928
45 828