General meeting of Stollwerck GmbH: Shareholders decide on squeeze-out

Cologne, 30th April 2003. With a majority of 99.55% the general meeting of Stollwerck GmbH on 30th April 2003 in Cologne agreed to the squeeze out according to §§327 aff. AktG, which was applied for by the majority shareholder Van Houten Beteiligungs AG & Co KG. The minority shareholders received a cash compensation of € 295 per share. Furthermore, it was resolved on the discharge of the acts of the management board and of the supervisory board for the year 2002. Dr. Christian Jacobs, Patrick De Maeseneire and Andreas Schmid were appointed as members of the supervisory board for the next 5 years.
Van Houten Beteiligungs AG & Co KG is a subsidiary wholly owned by Barry Callebaut AG based in Zurich.