Mondelez International & D.E Master Blenders 1753 to Form World's Leading Pure-Play Coffee Company

DEERFIELD, Ill. and AMSTERDAM, May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) and D.E Master Blenders 1753 B.V. today announced their intention to combine their respective coffee businesses to create the world's leading pure-play coffee company, with annual revenues of more than $7 billion (€5 billion) and an EBITDA[1] margin in the high teens.

The new company, to be called Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), will be based in the Netherlands.  It will hold leading market positions in more than two dozen countries and have a strong emerging market presence, giving it significant revenue synergy opportunities in the $81 billion global coffee category [2]. The two companies own some of the world's leading coffee brands, such as Jacobs, Carte Noire, Gevalia, Kenco, Tassimo and Millicano from Mondelez International and Douwe Egberts, L'OR, Pilao and Senseo from D.E Master Blenders 1753.

"Jacobs Douwe Egberts will leverage the rich histories of both companies, combining our complementary geographic footprints, portfolios of iconic brands and innovative technologies to offer more people around the world more access to high-quality coffee and allowing the company to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities in a highly attractive market," said Pierre Laubies, CEO of D.E Master Blenders 1753 and prospective CEO of the combined company. 

"We're delighted with this transaction and the substantial value we expect to create for our shareholders," said Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International, whose coffee portfolio has outpaced market growth since 2010, thanks to innovations such as the Tassimo multibeverage on-demand brewing system and Millicano wholebean instant coffee.  "By retaining a significant stake in the combined company, we'll continue to benefit from the future growth of the coffee category and share in the synergies and tremendous upside of this leading, one-of-a-kind coffee company."

Transaction Summary

The parties have entered into an agreement to combine Mondelez International's wholly owned coffee portfolio (outside of France) with D.E Master Blenders 1753. In conjunction with this transaction, Acorn Holdings B.V. ("AHBV"), owner of D.E Master Blenders 1753, has made a binding offer to receive Mondelez International's coffee business in France. The parties have also invited Mondelez International's partners in certain joint ventures to join the new company. The transactions remain subject to regulatory approvals and the completion of employee information and consultation requirements.

In 2013, Mondelez International's wholly owned coffee business generated approximately $3.9 billion (€2.9 billion) in revenue, and D.E Master Blenders 1753 generated approximately $3.4 billion (€2.5 billion) in revenue.

Upon completion of all proposed transactions, Mondelez International will receive cash of approximately $5 billion and a 49 percent equity interest in Jacobs Douwe Egberts.  AHBV will hold a majority share in the proposed combined company and will have a majority of the seats on the Board, which will be chaired by current D.E Master Blenders 1753 Chairman Bart Becht.  AHBV is owned by an investor group led by JAB Holding Company s.a r.l.  Mondelez International will have certain minority rights.

The transactions are expected to be completed in the course of 2015, subject to limited closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.  During this time, Mondelez International and D.E Master Blenders 1753 will undertake consultations with all Works Councils and employee representatives as required in connection with the transactions.    

The new company's executive leadership team will be named at a later date and will consist of executives from both D.E Master Blenders 1753 and Mondelez International.  Fact sheets with key data about the coffee businesses of both companies are available for download at http://bit.ly/1iiBeFe.

About D.E Master Blenders 1753

D.E Master Blenders 1753 is a leading pure-play coffee and tea company that offers an extensive range of high-quality, innovative products through well-known brands such as Douwe Egberts, Senseo, L'OR, Pilao, Merrild, Moccona, Pickwick and Tea Forte in both retail and out of home markets. The company holds a number of leading market positions across Europe, Brazil, Australia and Thailand and its products are sold in more than 45 countries. D.E Master Blenders 1753 generated sales of more than €2.5 billion in 2013 and employs around 7,500 people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.demasterblenders1753.com.

About Mondelez International

Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is a global snacking powerhouse, with 2013 revenue of $35 billion.  Creating delicious moments of joy in 165 countries, Mondelez International is a world leader in chocolate, biscuits, gum, candy, coffee and powdered beverages, with billion-dollar brands such as Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate, Jacobs coffee, Oreo, LU and Nabisco biscuits, Tang powdered beverages and Trident gum. Mondelez International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, NASDAQ 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com and www.facebook.com/mondelezinternational.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words, such as "will," "expect," "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about: the parties' entry into the transactions, the timeframe for completing the transactions and the financial and growth prospects for the new company; the cash proceeds and ownership interests to be received in the transactions; creation of value for shareholders; coffee category growth; and the benefits of the transactions to Mondelez International. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Mondelez International's control, which could cause Mondelez International's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks that the parties will fail to successfully complete the transactions on the anticipated timeframe and that the transactions will not yield the anticipated benefits. Please also see Mondelez International's risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in Mondelez International's filings with the SEC, including its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. Mondelez International disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

[1] Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization

[2] Euromonitor, 2013

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SOURCE Mondelez International, Inc.