Wessanen 2009: a year of refocusing

Q4 2009 highlights

• Tree of Life, Inc. divestment completed in January 2010, transaction price USD 190 million
• Divestment of three smaller non-core companies, in line with chosen strategic direction
• Revenue from continuing operations down 4.9% to EUR 169 million (autonomous decline of 2.9%)
• Wessanen Europe autonomous revenue decline of 0.7% (growth in France, other markets weak)
• Operating result (EBIT) of EUR 43.7 million negative, mainly due to impairment charges and non-recurring items; underlying operating result of EUR (0.5) million
• Net result EUR (112) million, largely as a result of (in)tangible asset and deferred tax asset impairments and book loss on divestment

• 2009 a year of considerable change and transformation for Wessanen to re-establish focus
• Large and important steps taken (strategy, divestments, organisation, management) to focus on Organic markets in Europe
• Search for new CEO successfully completed: Piet Hein Merckens to start at Wessanen per 1 April 2010 and to become CEO per 1 June 2010
• Revenue from continuing operations EUR 703 million, down 2.9% autonomously