Author: Darren Rickard

  • CNBC: Warren Buffett : I Would Have Voted Against Kraft-Cadbury Deal

    Published: Wednesday, 20 Jan 2010 | 9:39 AM ET

    By: Alex Crippen
    Executive Producer

    Warren Buffett
    Getty Images
    Warren Buffett

    Warren Buffett tells CNBC in a live interview on Squawk Box this morning that he has “a lot of doubts” about Kraft’s planned purchase of Cadbury and that he “feels poor” in the wake of the deal.

    The deal does not need to be approved by shareholders, but “If I had a chance to vote on this, I’d vote no.”

    Kraft shares are down over two percent in pre-market trading on his comments. Current price: [KFT 28.755 -0.655 (-2.23%) ]

    Despite his criticism, Buffett rejected Joe Kernen’s suggestion that he show his displeasure by selling Berkshire’s stake of over 9 percent in Kraft. That, he says, would be too expensive because Kraft’s stock is still “undervalued” but not as undervalued as it was three weeks ago.

    Buffett also strongly criticized Kraft’s recent sale of a pizza business to Nestle at a price he believes was too low.

    But he says Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld is a “good operator” and a “good person.” He has “cordial relations” with her despite their “difference of opinion.”

    He thinks “deal momentum” fueled by the investment bankers may have helped push the Kraft-Cadbury deal forward.

    Will Buffett become a more activist shareholder in the future? He says no, he’s getting it out of his system now.

    On the economy, he says Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries have shed around 25,000 jobs in the last 12 to 18 months, and won’t be rehiring “until orders start coming in.”

    And he thinks “you’re not going to have people feeling good until jobs come back,” although “a lot of the housing crisis is behind us.”

    While the economy remains Buffett’s biggest concern, he again repeated his long-held belief that it will rebound strongly over a period of years.

    He repeats his belief that its better to hold stocks than cash or bonds.

    Buffett also tells us the proposed 50-for-1 stock split of Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B shares does not mean he’s changing his mind on all his other long-held beliefs.

    Buffett had consistently rejected a stock split, but says today that it was a “simple” decision to make because it will facilitate Berkshire’s planned acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

    Buffett says the split “makes sense” and he’s confident he has the votes to win shareholder approval of the move.

    He still doesn’t like the idea of stock splits and issuing new shares, but feels it’s necessary for the Burlington deal which will bring a “great long-term asset” to Berkshire. He enjoys the stock moves “as much as I enjoy preparing for a colonoscopy.”

    Asked about the announcement yesterday by Korean steelmaker POSCO that Buffett told its CEO he will raise Berkshire’s stake in the company, Buffett says he has no immediate plans to buy and agreed with Becky that his comments may have been “lost in translation.”

    Buffett doesn’t approve of President Obama’s proposed tax on banks to help pay for the government’s bailout of financial firms. He thinks its not fair for banks that have already paid back the government’s investment in them to be forced to make up Washington’s losses on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

    He does think the U.S. government should not backstop investment banks such as Goldman Sachs [GS 165.84 -1.02 (-0.61%) ].

    Buffett thinks “the banks are cleaning up their own mess,” and many aren’t making “obscene profits,” despite popular concceptions. But he does have a problem with CEOs getting big pay packages when they leave a bank that needed to be bailed out by the government. Instead, he says, the CEO should “essentially be wiped out.”

    Buffett again endorses the job Ben Bernanke has done as Federal Reserve Chairman, calling for the Senate to confirm him and joking that there would be a big market stock selloff if Bernanke does not win Congressional approval.

    Current stock prices:

    Berkshire Class A: [BRK.A 100700.00 670.00 (+0.67%) ]

    Berkshire Class B: [BRK.B 3358.00 26.00 (+0.78%) ]

    Burlington Northern: [BNI 99.23 0.09 (+0.09%) ]

    Wells Fargo: [WFC 28.35 0.07 (+0.25%) ]

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  • CNBC VIDEO: Becky Quick One-On-One with Warren Buffett – 21/1/10

    Airtime: Thurs. Jan. 21 2010 | 2:00 AM ET

    Berkshire Hathaway is holding a special shareholders meeting today, with Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway chairman & CEO and CNBC’s Becky Quick.

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  • GURU FOCUS: Whitney Tilson: Long Berkshire Hathaway and Short Home Builders and Region Banks

    Jan. 19, 2010 | Filed Under: BRK-A , BRK-B , BNI , ITB

    Author: guruek

    Is now the time to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares on a split?

    T2 Partners managing partner Whitney Tilson certainly thinks so.

    In the latest CNBC interview, Tilson stated that he thinks BRK-A has an intrinsic value of around $14,000 per share and currently it is traded at a biggest discount to intrinsic value ever.

    He thinks Berkshire Hathaway will be substitute Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI) in the S&P 500 after the merger and the Class B share split. That will be a catalyst for the stock to move up.

    Elsewhere, he thinks housing trouble is not over and there will be more foreclosures coming into the market. The country does not need that many new houses in the next couple of years, hence, it makes sense to short the home builders. ITB is the iShares for home builders.

    Tilson also thinks certain small regional banks may continue to struggle and that makes them ideal shorting candidates:

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  • OMAHA WORLD HERALD: Not your usual Berkshire event

    By Steve Jordon
    WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

    There’s only one mystery surrounding today’s special meeting of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shareholders.

    How many people will attend?

    The meeting agenda has prompted no visible opposition, so shareholders likely will approve the only item of business: splitting Berkshire’s Class B shares 50-1, effective Thursday morning, in preparation for next month’s expected acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.

    The shareholders’ vote also will be an unofficial referendum on Chairman Warren Buffett’s plan to acquire the railroad company, which he says stands to prosper as the U.S. economy moves forward in coming decades.

    It’s a long-term bet on the country’s economic future, he has said, and Berkshire shareholders likely will back him up.

    For this meeting, shareholders did not receive attendance credentials in advance, as they do for the annual shareholders meeting that draws tens of thousands of shareholders to Omaha each May.

    When the doors open at 8 a.m. to the Holland Performing Arts Center downtown, shareholders will gain admission by showing their IDs and, if their shares are held by a stockbroker or a bank, a statement proving stock ownership. They will meet in the 2,000-seat concert hall.

    Berkshire officials said they don’t know how many people will attend, but the meeting will have few of the entertaining elements that draw the big crowd to the annual gathering: five hours of questions and answers with Buffett and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger; a convention hall full of Berkshire subsidiaries’ bargains; and the chance to rub shoulders with thousands of like-minded investors.

    This meeting has no exhibits, probably a short Q&A session with Buffett and, most disappointing, no Munger.

    Not to mention the 40-degree difference in temperature in Omaha between January and May, the aesthetic contrast between mounds of snow and springtime blossoms, budding leaves and green grass, and the contrast between warm weather and freezing rain.

    Berkshire’s last special meeting was in 1998, at the Orpheum Theater, when about 500 shareholders approved Buffett’s plan to acquire General Reinsurance.

    This time, he wants shareholders to split the shares so that when Berkshire issues $10.5 billion worth of stock as part of the $26 billion purchase price for the railroad, even the smallest Burlington Northern shareholders could become Berkshire shareholders. They also would receive $15.8 billion in cash.

    Receiving stock for part of the purchase price would let those shareholders defer some income taxes.

    The new, smaller-value shares would begin trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, opening at one-fiftieth of Wednesday’s closing price. At Tuesday’s closing price of $3,337.95, that would be about $66 a share.

    The split would not affect the price of Berkshire’s Class A shares, $100,090 at Tuesday’s close. After the Class B split, each Class A share could be converted into 1,500 Class B shares, instead of the 1-30 conversion ratio before the split.

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  • WALL STREET JOURNAL BLOG: Buffett’s Gone Soft

    By Ari Weinberg

    20/1/10

    This week, I could fulfill a childhood dream of owning a share of Berkshire Hathaway.

    When the company closes on its purchase of railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Berkshire is expected to split its fractional Class B shares 50 to 1, for a dollar value so low that even I could buy them (not that I will)!

    But how Warren has turned my once-lofty sights so pedestrian.

    Spotting the anomaly of Berkshire’s outsize shares in The Wall Street Journal tables nearly 25 years ago is my first memory of the stock market. The shares stuck out by trading at low quadruple digits compared to double digit stocks for all other companies. This had the same impact for me as charting the price of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card: it had allure and mystery because it traded for thousands.

    Well, now, to accomodate his “bet” on the American recovery, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Warren Buffett is believed to be bowing to the gods of tax-efficient mergers and gobbling up the rest of Burlington Northern with cash and split-shares of Berkshire’s B Class. (And, eek, even a new issuance.)

    Yes, the sanctity of the A Class shares will remain, but all of a sudden Berkshire Hathaway will count thousands to millions of new shareholders and may even snag inclusion in the S&P 500.

    While I don’t fault this shareholder-friendly transaction, I can’t help think that Uncle Warren is going soft as he continues to plot his legacy as one of America’s greatest creators of wealth.

    Just think of the example he’s setting for his shareholder-value proteges.

    Would Sergey and Larry “do evil” and chop up Google shares for more tuck-in technology acquisitions? Could Microsoft dish out its tremendous cash hoard in a special one-time dividend?

    Well, that once happened in 2003 after years of tech firms declaring that they were their own best stewards of cash.

    So, with Buffett splitting Berkshire shares once again, could the sin of a dividend be next on Buffett’s bucket list?

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  • CNBC: Berkshire Hathaway Stock Split Could Put Warren Buffett Into the S&P 500

    Published: Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010 | 9:44 PM ET
    By: Alex Crippen
    Executive Producer

    Warren Buffett
    Getty Images
    Warren Buffett

    Berkshire Hathaway will hold a special shareholders meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) morning in Omaha to vote on a proposed 50-for-1 split of the company’s Class B shares.

    Warren Buffett, who controls about a third of Berkshire’s voting rights, supports the move and it is widely expected to be easily approved.

    Berkshire’s Class A shares, the ones that trade around $100,000 and give their owners voting rights, won’t be affected.

    After the split, the price of Class B shares, often referred to as the Baby Bs, would go from around $3332 a share (tonight’s close) to somewhere between $66 and $67 a share. That would happen as soon as the split is made effective, which could be as early as Thursday.

    The resulting increase in trading volume and liquidity may pave the way for the stock to be added to the benchmark S&P 500 index.

    The lower entry price could also attract ‘small’ investors who weren’t able, or were unwilling, to spend four-figures on a single share of stock. (That, in turn, may boost attendance at Berkshire’s regular annual shareholders meeting in May, since anyone owning even one share is entitled to attend the popular ‘Woodstock of Capitalism.’)

    While most shareholders will vote this time by proxy and avoid making the trip to chilly Nebraska in the middle of January, (TWC’s forecast calls for an icy rain), CNBC’s Becky Quick is there to report on the meeting.

    She’s also scheduled to do a live interview with Buffett in the 8A ET hour of CNBC’s Squawk Box.

    Berkshire Portfolio

    Over the years, Buffett rejected all calls to split the stock, fearing that a lower price would attract buyers looking for short-term trading gains. Buffett says he likes to have long-term ‘owners’ rather than traders as his partners.

    But when Berkshire’s proposed acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe was announced last November, Buffett told us:

    “I’m not big on stock splits. But by having this split, it enables anybody that has as little as one share of BNSF to opt for the tax-free exchange… So those small shareholders can have exactly the same availability that otherwise would only have been available to a big shareholder.”

    In a proxy filing, however, Berkshire said its Board of Directors “believes that the split is advisable regardless of the BNSF transaction.”

    Buffett biographer Alice Schroeder thinks the Burlington Northern deal has provided a “plausible excuse” for a split, giving “Standard & Poor’s the ticket it needs to add Berkshire to the S&P 500 Index at a time when S&P is desperate for large, solvent, high-quality companies to replace the casualties of last year’s carnage.”

    She writes: “Buffett would never admit to wanting Berkshire to join the S&P, but becoming an acknowledged peer to other major companies is part of the path to his legacy. It isn’t enough for him that Berkshire lives on profitably long after he does. Berkshire is his ‘didactic enterprise,’ his way of teaching the world how he thinks a business should be run.”

    And on the WSJ’s MarketBeat blog, Ari Weinberg speculates the split may have something to do with Buffett’s legacy, and wonders, “Could the sin of a dividend be next on Buffett’s bucket list?”

    Current Berkshire stock prices:

    Class A: [BRK.A 100030.00 2530.00 (+2.59%) ]

    Class B: [BRK.B 3332.00 UNCH (0) ]

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  • CNBC: Korean Steelmaker Posco Rallies on Hopes Buffett Will Increase Stake

    Published: Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010 | 6:05 PM ET

    By: Alex Crippen
    Executive Producer

    POSCO.com
    The POSCO Center in Seoul, South Korea

    South Korean steelmaker POSCO closed almost 5 percent higher at $136.02 in New York trading today (Tuesday), after the company said Warren Buffett wants to buy more shares.

    Current ADR price: [PKX 136.02 4.98 (+3.8%) ]

    Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway already owns 4.5 percent of POSCO.

    POSCO CEO Joon-Yang Chung met with Buffett yesterday during a visit to Berkshire’s Omaha headquarters.

    In a statement emailed to reporters, POSCO says Buffett told the CEO that he intends to buy more shares and regrets he didn’t increase the stake last year when the global economic crisis had pushed POSCO’s share price sharply lower.

    It’s almost tripled since its 2009 low in March of $47.09 to its recent high of $140 on January 11. Bloomberg says Berkshire may have a paper profit of over $1.3 billion on its POSCO holdings, which were disclosed for the first time in 2007.

    We don’t know how serious Buffett is about adding to the stake or when he might do it. He may have just been trying to make polite conversation with his guest.

    We do know that it is very unusual for Buffett to talk publicly about his stock buying plans, and also unusual for him to buy when a stock is at an almost two-year high.

    Current Berkshire stock prices:

    Berkshire Portfolio

    Class A: [BRK.A 100030.00 2530.00 (+2.59%) ]

    Class B: [BRK.B 3332.00 UNCH (0) ]


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  • CNBC: Warren Buffett Won’t Get to Vote on Kraft-Cadbury, But May Have Something to Say Tomorrow on CNBC

    Published: Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010 | 2:21 PM ET
    By: Alex Crippen
    Executive Producer

    Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway won’t be able to make good on its threat to vote against Kraft’s agreement to buy Cadbury, even though Kraft had to raise its bid again to nearly $19 billion to close the deal.

    Berkshire is Kraft’s biggest shareholder, with a stake of over 9 percent.

    Earlier this month, in a very unusual news release, Berkshire said it would vote against Kraft’s proposal to authorize the issuance of up to 370 million shares to facilitate a potential deal.

    The release criticized Kraft [KFT 29.41 -0.17 (-0.57%) ] for using an “expensive currency” .. it’s own stock, then trading at $27 .. for a deal. And it was taken as a signal from Buffett that he didn’t want Kraft to increase its offer.

    The friendly deal today, while at a higher price, has a larger cash component than Kraft’s previous bids.

    As our David Faber pointed out weeks ago, Kraft doesn’t need shareholder approval to issue less than 20 percent of its outstanding shares. Today’s deal is structured so that it doesn’t require Kraft to go over that trigger, so there will be no shareholder vote. (See the clip of David’s report on TV this morning for more details.)

    But Buffett could still have something to say about the Kraft-Cadbury deal, and it may not be very complimentary.

    We’ll find out when he’s interviewed by Becky Quick live in the 8a ET hour of CNBC’s Squawk Box, ahead of tomorrow’s special Berkshire shareholders meeting called to approve a 50-for-1 split of Berkshire’s Class B shares. That split is designed to facilitate Berkshire’s acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

    Current Berkshire stock prices:

    Berkshire Portfolio

    Class A: [BRK.A 100030.00 2530.00 (+2.59%) ]

    Class B: [BRK.B 3332.00 UNCH (0) ]


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  • GURUFOCUS VIDEO: Donald Yackt Comments on the Kraft Foods Deal for Cadbury Plc

    Donald Yacktman, chief investment officer at Yacktman Asset Management Co., talks with Bloomberg’s Betty Liu about Kraft Foods Inc.’s agreement to buy Cadbury Plc for 11.9 billion pounds ($19.7 billion). The takeover ends four months of resistance from Cadbury and creates the world’s largest confectioner.

    Yacktman likes the accepted deal includes more cash and less stock than deals offered before. Because of that, he thinks the deal will be earning accretive in the earning in the next year.

    Yackman thinks strategically, the deal is good for Kraft as the company has been seeking for international expansion and new products to distribute on a worldwide basis for a couple of years.

    Yackman acknowledge that Warren Buffett’s earlier comment about Kraft’s using of undervalued Kraft stock to buy Cadbury caused the Kraft stock to go up.

    (Source: Bloomberg)

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  • CNN MONEY: Kraft’s Rosenfeld Expects Deal To Close Successfully

    By ANJALI CORDEIRO

    Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

    January 19, 2010: 12:37 PM ET

    Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) Chief Executive Irene Rosenfeld, speaking soon after brokering a deal to buy British confectioner Cadbury PLC (CBY), said that she’s confident the acquisition will close successfully and that the newly structured deal no longer requires a vote of approval from her own shareholders.

    Kraft on Tuesday announced a sweetened deal for the British confectioner with a new structure including less stock and more cash.

    The fact that Kraft is using less stock and no longer requires a vote from its shareholders is significant. Earlier this month, Kraft’s largest shareholder, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKA, BRKB), said it would vote against the issuance of new stock. Kraft now no longer requires Berkshire to change its vote.

    To be sure, while Buffett has not spoken publicly, he could be less critical of the new terms since it involves the issuance of fewer Kraft shares, which he had suggested were undervalued. A Berkshire Hathaway spokeswoman said Buffett was not available for comment.

    In the interview, Rosenfeld said her company doesn’t need its investors to sign off on the deal because less stock was being issued. The Kraft shareholder vote no longer is required under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange since new stock being issued is less than 20% of shares outstanding.

    Rosenfeld declined to comment directly on Buffett’s reaction to the new terms.

    “I have no reason to believe Mr. Buffett doesn’t support my management team,” Rosenfeld said. Buffett’s comments earlier in January had been seen as a rebuke of Kraft.

    Earlier Tuesday, Cadbury accepted a GBP11.9 billion takeover offer from Kraft, a deal that ends a bitter four-month battle and nearly 200 years of independence for the U.K.’s largest confectionery company. The U.S. food company, which makes the Toblerone and Milka brands of chocolate, as well as processed cheese and ready-to-eat meals, said it has agreed to pay 840 pence a share for the company as well as a 10 pence dividend, sweetening the original offer and significantly increasing the cash element.

    Kraft will pay 500 pence in cash for each Cadbury share as well as 0.1874 new Kraft shares, up from its original offer of 300 pence in cash and 0.2589 new Kraft shares. The original hostile bid had been rejected by the U.K.-based maker of Trident gum and Dairy Milk candy for being “derisory,” and had been criticized by some shareholders for offering too little in cash.

    Rosenfeld argued in the interview that despite the higher price, Kraft believes the deal “would deliver attractive economic returns.”

    She said that over the course of the transaction, she had conversations with many investors, including Buffett, and they told her there was “tremendous intrinsic value” in Kraft shares. That eventually pushed Kraft to significantly reduce the number of shares in the transaction.

    Asked if other bidders might still emerge, Rosenfeld only said that she was confident her agreement with Cadbury would close. Hershey (HSY), far smaller than Kraft and with less financial firepower, is likely to be reluctant to jump in at this stage.

    The deal will add 5 cents to Kraft’s per share earnings by 2011.

    Rosenfeld said, “It is hard to argue that a deal that is quickly accretive to earning can be bad for our shareholders. It is a transformational transaction.”

    Kraft would be able to increase its footprint in developing markets, she said, and get cost savings and faster growth from the combination. Kraft is committing to its dividend and expects to keep its investment-grade rating despite the sweetened bid.

    The company is funding the cash portion of its bid through financing from banks that it had arranged for at the start of the takeover battle, proceeds from the sale of its pizza business to Nestle and cash on hand.

    “There are revenue synergies and cost savings that will come from the combination that will be able to accelerate the growth of the combined company,” Rosenfeld said.

    In India for instance, where Cabdury is strong, Kraft will use that sales network to grow the reach of Kraft brands, she said, whereas in a country like Brazil, Kraft will use its own network to boost Cadbury’s presence.

    Closing the lengthy, and sometimes acrimonious, deal would be seen as a positive for Rosenfeld. But Kraft will also face challenges in integrating a giant company with a presence across the globe.

    “They are getting an asset that will be very good for them. The price paid will take some justifying. It will take some time before Cadbury contributes to Kraft financially,” said Edward Jones analyst Matt Arnold.

    Rosenfeld didn’t say what would happen to Cadbury’s top management, saying only that the company had a lot to work on in coming weeks.

    “For a transaction of this magnitude we have been doing a great deal of integration planning…first hundred days planning,” she said, adding that it will be key to ensure that Cadbury maintains its business momentum.

    The agreement brings to an end a lengthy battle that often threatened to go sour for Kraft.

    “[I] feel quite good about the end results,” Rosenfeld said Tuesday.

    Kraft shares, however, were down Tuesday, falling almost 2% to $29.00 in early afternoon trading.

    -By Anjali Cordeiro, Dow Jones Newswires

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  • MOTLEY FOOL BLOG: Berkshire Hathaway Class B Split

    January 19, 2010

    By jc09058’s CAPS

    For the last month, I have been sitting here and waiting for the results of the special shareholder vote on the Class B 50 to 1 split. While doing this, I’ve been reading and number of articles over the last week on the possible results from the split. A common thread in a number of these articles has been how trading activity for the Class B shares will increase because of the share price drop, and the possible inclusion of BRK into the S&P 500 list.

    While I can’t say whether or not BRK will be included into the S&P 500 list, those folks have their own metrics for that decision, I would certainly find that to be a rather interesting turn of events. While I can’t say what Mr. Buffett and Mr. Munger would say to that, it would make for some interest effects on share prices in the short-term and who knows where the share price will settle in the long-term.

    Now, concerning Class B share prices, typically, I have found Class B shares stay at or below the 30:1 share price cap that was set up by the Berkshire Hathaway when the Class B shares were created. Plus, the Class A shares typically drove the Class B share prices on it’s upward movements. Now, these articles elude to how the increase in the Class B shares needed for the Burlington Northern takeover may reverse the trend in the control, by the Class A shares, because of day traders and the lower share price in the Class B shares will allow more trading volume by the average investor.

    I find that to be a little difficult to believe when you consider other limitations built into the Class B shares. 1) you can’t buy into the Class A shares from the Class B shares, 2) the maximum price cap for the Class B shares should change from 30:1 to 1500:1 against the Class A share price, and 3) the voting rights available currently require 200:1 ratio of the Class B shares to get a single Class A vote should change to 10,000:1 after the split. Taking these items into account, I find it difficult that any investor or group of investors would find the Class B shares to be any more attractive than it was prior to the split.

    Granted, inclusion of Berkshire Hathaway in the S&P 500, will change the share prices a lot due to the mandate that S&P 500 index fund HAVE to buy those shares and that would drive their share prices up for the Class B shares. I can’t even imagine what would happen to the Class A share prices in this scenario due to the scarcity in it’s trading volume and how much is held by Mr. Buffet alone. Could it be possible that he might become the first Trillionaire if that happened?

    While those individuals think that this is a fairly likely outcome for the future, I’m not sure. They belief that the Class B share price will start driving the Class A share price is the only way that could happen. However, I am sure that Mr. Buffett and Mr. Munger have taken that into account in their desire to maintain their control over Berkshire Hathaway and their plans for it’s future growth.

    Basically, I bought into Berkshire Hathaway because of it’s past and it’s present operations, and due to Mr. Buffett and Mr. Munger plans for the company’s future. That is why I will remain with them as well, rather than on the possible what-if’s. Any investor wishing to do the same should make that their primary and only consideration for Berkshire Hathaway now or after the split in the Class B share.

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  • THE ECONOMIST: Chocs away

    Kraft wins a battle for Britain’s Cadbury and will become the world’s biggest confectioner

    Jan 19th 2010

    From Economist.com

    THE intervention of a government minister in Kraft’s battle to buy Cadbury says much about the strength of British feeling for their favourite chocolate-maker. The American food giant’s sweetened offer, too toothsome to turn down, was accepted by Cadbury’s board on Tuesday January 19th. Kraft will pay £11.9 billion ($19.4 billion) for Cadbury in cash and shares, some 50% more than the firm’s value before the bidding started in September. Yet last week Britain’s business secretary, Lord Mandelson, warned a big group of the country’s institutional investors—doubtless fixing those from Cadbury with a narrowed eye—against the dangers of short-termism.

    A month earlier he had promised Kraft that the British government would scrutinise a foreign buyer to ensure that “respect” was paid to Cadbury’s proud heritage. The firm has been catering to the British for 186 years. In a country that cheerfully waves in foreign buyers for its businesses the threat of “huge opposition” from the government was an unusual change of tone. Kraft too received some words of wisdom on its attempted takeover from a senior American, although the advice of Warren Buffett was of a more practical kind. His investment firm, Berkshire Hathaway, is a big shareholder in Kraft. Reckoning that Kraft’s shares are undervalued he counselled the firm’s bosses not to let their “animal spirits run high” and overpay for Cadbury.

    Irene Rosenfeld, Kraft’s chief executive, seems to have listened. Shortly before a deadline imposed by British takeover rules, Kraft upped its bid for Cadbury by boosting the cash portion significantly while reducing from 370m to 265m the number of new shares it will issue to complete the deal. Kraft’s share price got a well-timed boost last week after the firm forecast that its profits for 2009 would be even better than earlier expected.

    Ms Rosenfeld was quick to acknowledge on Tuesday that Kraft has “great respect for Cadbury’s brands, heritage and people”. Perhaps that will allay Lord Mandelson’s fears. Cadbury’s unions opposed the move, worried about job cuts, but the firm’s board has reasoned that the price is right to bring together the two companies to create the world’s biggest confectioner. Earlier the board had insisted that Cadbury was better off alone. Now Cadbury will become part of the “global powerhouse” that Ms Rosenfeld envisages.

    The two businesses are strong in different markets. Kraft has little presence in Britain’s confectionery market, where Cadbury is strong, but it has thriving businesses in mainland Europe, where Cadbury has made few inroads. Cadbury has a booming chewing-gum business, particularly in Europe and Latin America, an area where Kraft has little expertise. And between them they can make up lost ground in China, where Mars, the world’s second-placed sweet-maker when the deal goes through, holds the upper hand. The deal is also set to yield cost savings of $675m a year.

    Other potential bidders still have the chance to make a more appealing offer but it seems that Kraft’s touted rivals will remain silent. America’s Hershey, smaller even than Cadbury, seems unlikely to be able to muster the financial forces to upset Kraft’s bid. Nestlé ruled itself out of the running by after buying Kraft’s American Pizza business for $3.7 billion early this month.

    Ms Rosenfeld may yet find the takeover of Cadbury a tricky process. In dealing with potential rivals, satisfying Cadbury’s board and soothing Mr Buffet, Kraft’s boss has proved she is a deft operator. If Lord Mandelson is harder to assuage she might try sending him a Chocolate Orange.

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  • REUTERS: TIMELINE-Kraft agrees Cadbury deal after 4-month fight

    Jan 19 (Reuters) – Kraft Foods (KFT.N) agrees a deal to buy Cadbury (CBRY.L) on Tuesday for around 11.9 billion pounds ($19.55 billion) by increasing its overall bid and offering more cash in an offer that was recommended by Cadbury’s board. [ID:nL9294700]

    The following are the key events in Kraft’s takeover battle for Cadbury:

    AUG 28 – Kraft’s Chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld meets Cadbury’s Chairman Roger Carr to outline a takeover deal in cash and shares which valued Cadbury’s shares at 755 pence each, but Carr dismissed the approach. The Kraft bid was worth 300p in cash and 0.2589 new Kraft shares for each Cadbury share.

    SEPT 7 – Kraft goes public with the bid, but by this time the value of the same offer had slipped to 745p per Cadbury share, or 10.2 billion pounds. Cadbury promptly rejects the bid.

    SEPT 12 – Cadbury’s Carr in a letter to Rosenfeld again rejects the bid saying it was an “unappealing prospect” being absorbed into Kraft’s “low growth conglomerate business”.

    SEPT 16 – Warren Buffett, the world’s second richest man and a leading shareholder in Kraft with a 9.4 percent stake, warned the U.S. food group not to overpay for Cadbury.

    SEPT 21 – Cadbury contacts the UK Takeover Panel to request a “put up or shut up” request be sent to Kraft, which would give a time frame for Kraft to come up with a formal bid.

    SEPT 23 – Cadbury CEO Todd Stitzer is reported at a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch conference as saying he saw some potential benefits from a Kraft deal and discussed valuations with investors, according to a note from the conference.

    SEPT 25 – Cadbury’s Stitzer says he does not believe Kraft’s offer for his company made strategic or financial sense, while Cadbury said his previous remarks had been misconstrued to imply a softening of his views about a deal with Kraft.

    SEPT 30 – UK Takeover Panel rules that Kraft has until 1700 GMT on Nov 9 to make a formal offer for Cadbury or walk away for six months. Cadbury reiterates its rejection of the Kraft bid.

    OCT 21 – Cadbury posts upbeat third-quarter trading with underlying sales up 7 percent as it raise its 2009 target for sales and profit margin growth. The shares fail to react as a counterbidder for Kraft is seen increasingly unlikely.

    OCT 22 – Nestle (NESN.VX) and Hershey (HSY.N) report third-quarter results but neither mention a speculated joint bid for Cadbury with Nestle’s focus on increasing its share buyback.

    NOV 3 – Kraft’s third-quarter results disappoint investors with weaker-than-expected revenue and as it cut its 2009 sales forecast. CEO Rosenfeld says she will not overpay for Cadbury.

    NOV 9 – Kraft formalises its bid at the same terms for Cadbury as the original approach — 300p in cash and 0.2589 new Kraft share for each Cadbury share — valued at 717p.

    NOV 18 – Both Italy’s Ferrero and Hershey said separately they were reviewing a possible bid for Cadbury but gave no assurance that either would make an offer.

    NOV 23 – Cadbury shares hits all-time high of 819-1/2 pence on speculation of a battle between Kraft and rivals for the British chocolate maker.

    DEC 4 – Kraft posts its offer document to Cadbury shareholders starting off a two-month fight for the British group under UK takeover rules. Kraft says its bid is now worth 713 pence a share or 10.1 billion pounds.

    DEC 14 – Cadbury issues its official defence document promising bigger dividends and strong growth as Cadbury reminds its shareholders that Hershey and Ferrero may bid.

    DEC 18 – Cadbury CEO Todd Stitzer tells Reuters in an interview that a significant number of its major shareholders do not believe Kraft’s bid reflects Cadbury stand-alone value.

    JAN 5 – Kraft sweetens bid with 60p more cash but cuts shares on offer to keep offer price unchanged.

    JAN 6 – Kraft says it has a 1.52 percent take-up for its offer for Cadbury at its first closing date for the bid.

    JAN 12 – Cadbury gives its final official defence against Kraft bid reporting robust trading and rejecting the bid on valuation. Ferrero pulls out, say sources close to the deal.

    JAN 14 – Cadbury fires last words in its defence as media reports say that Hershey is looking at mounting a solo bid, but many analysts doubt whether Hershey can come up finance. Reporting by David Jones; Editing by Louise Heavens)

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  • BUSINESSWEEK: Kraft Foods, Cadbury agree $19.5 bln deal

    The Associated Press January 19, 2010, 5:57AM ET

    By ROBERT BARR

    British candy maker Cadbury PLC on Tuesday accepted and recommended to shareholders Kraft’s improved takeover offer worth $19.5 billion, potentially ending a months-long corporate battle to create the world’s largest maker of chocolate and sweets.

    The U.S. food conglomerate said the board of Cadbury, maker of Creme Eggs and Dentyne gum, had unanimously endorsed the offer worth 840 pence per share, or 11.9 billion pounds in total. Cadbury shareholders will also get a 10 pence dividend previously promised by Cadbury.

    The revised bid is for 500 pence cash and 0.1874 new Kraft shares for each Cadbury share, still somewhat less than some analysts believed the company is worth but 50 percent higher than Cadbury’s market value before Kraft went public with its approach.

    Kraft Foods Inc.’s previous offer of 10.5 billion pounds ($17.1 billion) valued Cadbury at about 770 pence, but was dismissed by the British company’s management as “derisory.”

    Kraft still has to persuade a majority of Cadbury shareholders to accept the deal, and the door remains open until 7 a.m. (0200 GMT) Monday for The Hershey Co. to jump in with a rival bid.

    The combined companies would be the world leader in chocolate and sweets, Kraft said, and No. 2 globally in the high-growth gum market. But some in Britain are disgruntled at the prospect of a historic brand losing its independence.

    Cadbury traces its roots to the grocery store opened in 1824 by John Cadbury in Birmingham. A Quaker, Cadbury believed cocoa and drinking chocolate were healthy alternatives to alcohol, considered to add to the miseries of the working class.

    Its Dairy Milk chocolate brand was launched in 1905 as a challenge to dominant Swiss chocolate makers.

    “We have great respect for Cadbury’s brands, heritage and people. We believe they will thrive as part of Kraft Foods,” said Kraft’s CEO Irene Rosenfield.

    “This recommended offer represents a compelling opportunity for Cadbury shareholders, providing both immediate value certainty and upside potential in the combined company.”

    Cadbury Chairman Roger Carr, who had led a spirited defense against Kraft’s previous offer, said he believed the deal “represents good value for Cadbury shareholders.”

    Cadbury shares were up 3.3 percent at 834 pence following the announcement.

    “Although we always considered that 850 pence could be enough to win shareholder support we have to admit surprise at how meekly Cadbury has apparently acquiesced,” said Jeremy Batstone-Carr, analyst at Charles Stanley & Co.

    Only last week, Batstone-Carr added, the Cadbury chairman “had confidently predicted that the company’s share price could be over 10 pounds (1,000 pence) in due course.”

    Kraft predicted pretax cost savings of at least $675 million a year once the combination has been working for three years.

    Tuesday was the deadline for Kraft to raise its offer. Cadbury shares moved above 800 pence on Monday, indicating the market was looking for Kraft to jump to that level or higher.

    The British company had fought hard against Kraft’s initial offer announced in December, rejecting it as a “derisory” bid from an unfocused, underperforming conglomerate.

    The agreed price is 13 times Cadbury’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; Cadbury had argued that similar recent takeovers in the sector had been for 14 times EBITDA or more.

    Kraft may still have a battle winning endorsement from Cadbury shareholders, and The Hershey Co. has until Saturday to decide whether it wants to make a rival bid.

    Feb. 2 is the deadline for Kraft to win acceptance from holders of a majority of Cadbury shares.

    David Cumming, head of U.K. equities at Cadbury shareholder Standard Life, had said Monday that Kraft needed to aim above 900 pence to secure support from long-term shareholders. But on Tuesday, he signaled the fight was over. “I probably won’t go against the view of Cadbury’s management,” he told the BBC.

    Kraft, based in Northfield, Illinois, had raised the cash portion of its offer earlier this month from 300 pence to 360 pence after selling its North America pizza business to Nestle for $3.7 billion.

    Billionaire investor Warren Buffet, whose Berkshire Hathaway is Kraft’s biggest shareholder, had warned against offer any more shares for Cadbury. Buffett declared last year that he believed Kraft’s original offer for Cadbury was “pretty full.”

    Kraft said the latest offer reduces the share portion, and thus won’t need to be approved by its shareholders.

    Cadbury has some 45,000 employees in 60 countries, including 5,600 staff in British and Irish plants.

    The Unite union in Britain had campaigned against Kraft’s bid, fearing that Kraft could slash 7,000 jobs in order to manage the debt needed to finance a takeover.

    Prime Minister Gordon Brown told reporters that the government was “determined that the levels of investment that take place in Cadbury’s in the United Kingdom are maintained.”

    “We are determined of course, that, at a time when people are worried about their jobs, jobs in Cadbury can be secured.”

    The report of a deal drew a sharp response from Felicity Loudon, a great granddaughter of Cadbury’s founder Egbert Cadbury.

    “I don’t know what they’re doing,” Loudon told Sky News. “Kraft will have to asset strip to afford anything.”

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  • HERALD SUN: Cadbury takeover of Kraft all sweet

    Herald Sun, January 20, 2010 12:00AM

    BRITISH chocolate maker Cadbury is finalising terms of an improved 12 billion ($A20.8 billion) takeover bid from US food giant Kraft after a bitter battle.

    “The boards of Kraft Foods and Cadbury confirm that they are finalising the terms of a recommended offer for Cadbury. A further announcement will be made shortly,” the companies said yesterday.

    Kraft chief executive Irene Rosenfeld increased the first bid after Cadbury rejected it as “derisory” and US chocolate maker Hershey prepared to mount a rival offer.

    A purchase by Kraft would create a company with about $US50 billion in annual sales, adding Cadbury’s products to Kraft’s Oreo cookies, Toblerone chocolate and Tang powdered drinks.

    British-based Cadbury and Kraft declined further comment last night.

    Hershey is unlikely to top Kraft’s offer.

    As recently as last week Cadbury called US-based Kraft an “unfocused conglomerate” with businesses in “unappealing categories”.

    Ms Rosenfeld faced pressure from her shareholders to get the price right.

    Billionaire investor William Ackman last week joined Warren Buffett, Kraft’s biggest shareholder, in saying Kraft risked diminishing the merits of a Cadbury takeover by issuing too much stock to pay for it.

    Kraft has informed Mr Buffett of the revised deal with Cadbury, a source said.

    Mr Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway company said on January 5 it may support a Cadbury takeover if it concluded the final offer “does not destroy value for Kraft shareholders”.

    Mr Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management recently bought a $US950 million stake in Kraft, or 2 per cent of the company.

    Mr Ackman said a purchase of Cadbury made “tremendous sense”.

    Kraft advanced US46 to $US29.58 on the New York Stock Exchange last Friday, before Monday’s US holiday. Based on that price, the original bid of 300p in cash and 0.2589 Kraft shares was more than 60 per cent stock. The new offer consists of 40 per cent stock and 60 per cent cash.

    If Kraft reduces the number of shares it plans to issue to less than 20 per cent of its existing shares outstanding, it no longer needs to have the deal approved by its own shareholders.

    Kraft had scheduled a special February 1 investor meeting, but Berkshire Hathaway had already voted its shares against the proposal.

    Bloomberg and Agenices

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  • SMART MONEY: Cadbury Accepts $19.6 Billion Offer

    GOOD MORNING. stocks in Asia closed mixed today; U.S. futures are pointing to a lower open.

    By any stretch, $19.6 billion should buy you a lot of Dairy Milk chocolate and Trident gum. But now that Kraft Foods (KFT: 29.58, +0.46, +1.57%) has struck a deal for Cadbury (CBY: 51.90, +0.06, +0.11%)—creating the world’s largest confectioner–will it pay off for shareholders?

    Cadbury’s board accepted a deal for the company at 850 pence (including a special 10 pence dividend) or roughly $19.6 billion, 50% above Cadbury’s share price before Kraft’s initial offer in early September. The higher bid includes 500 pence per share in cash, up from 300 pence, and the rest in Kraft shares. Large Kraft shareholders such as Warren Buffett had opposed giving Kraft a blank check to issue millions of shares to fund the deal, a move that could have sharply diluted earnings. Kraft plans to issue 265 million new shares to fund the deal, compared with its original plan to issue 370 million. But Kraft said the deal would add around 5 cents to earnings in 2011, providing a percentage return on the deal in the mid-teens. The higher cash component appears to have swayed Cadbury’s board. Question now: whether Kraft shareholders will see a higher long-term share price too.

    Cadbury’s profit growth certainly looks attractive. Operating profit margins have been rising, thanks in good measure to its highly lucrative gum business, and should hit 14.7% this year, up from 13.5% in 2009, estimates Jefferies analyst Simon Marshall-Lockyer. Organic revenue growth should hit 6.5% this year, up from 4.8% in 2009, he notes, and sales are growing more rapidly in emerging markets, which account for 38% of Cadbury’s global sales, versus 20% for Kraft. Chocolate and gum also tend to generate higher margins than staple grocery items, Kraft’s main business. And Cadbury’s revenues have been growing steadily in North America—up 13% in the fourth quarter—while Kraft’s sales are expanding at a fraction of that pace. Kraft is paying 13 times Cadbury’s underlying 2009 profits—not cheap, analysts say, but not excessively rich either.

    Of course, the history of big “transformational” deals is littered with failures, and integrating the supply chains, manufacturing plants and global operations of such large firms will be no easy feat. Kraft has been trying to decentralize operations, while Cadbury has been streamlining its business units—both aimed at improving profitability. “We have great respect for Cadbury’s brands, heritage and people,” said Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld in a statement. The challenge now: coming up with a joint recipe for success.

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  • REUTERS: Kraft snares Cadbury for $19.6 billion


    LONDON (Reuters) – Kraft Foods (KFT.N) agreed a deal to buy Cadbury (CBRY.L) for around 11.9 billion pounds ($19.6 billion), creating the world’s top confectioner after frantic last-minute talks broke an impasse over price.

    Kraft’s CEO Irene Rosenfeld had to inject more cash into her bid and drop the number of new Kraft shares in the offer to win over Roger Carr, chairman of the 186-year-old Cadbury and mollify her top shareholder, billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

    Kraft’s cash-and-share acquisition, which dealmakers said was struck after all-night negotiations at the London headquarters of investment bank Lazard, values each Cadbury share at 840 pence, with shareholders also set to get a 10p special dividend, bringing it to a total of 850p.

    The enlarged group will pip privately owned Mars-Wrigley to the title of the world’s top sweet maker, bringing under one roof Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate and Trident gum and Kraft’s Milka, Toblerone and Terry’s chocolate brands.

    Cadbury shares hit a record high of 838 pence in early trade and were up 3.3 percent 834.5p by 1154 GMT (6:54 a.m. EST).

    “We believe this is a very well-priced, and well-structured, deal from a Kraft perspective and we expect Kraft’s shares to open higher this afternoon which could push the value of the offer above 860p,” said Panmure Gordon analyst Graham Jones.

    Kraft shares traded in Frankfurt (KFT.F) were up 0.4 percent.

    The new bid, which won unanimous recommendation from the Cadbury board, consists of 500p of cash and 0.1874 new Kraft shares, compared to Kraft’s original offer of 300p cash and 0.2589 new Kraft shares, which valued the shares at 745p in September, when the deal was first proposed

    Buffett, who owns a 9.4-percent stake in Kraft, had warned Rosenfeld not to overpay and issue too many new Kraft shares, and Kraft responded on Tuesday by saying it was issuing 265 million new shares compared with its original plan to issue 370 million.

    “We have great respect for Cadbury’s brands, heritage and people. We believe they will thrive as part of Kraft Foods,” Rosenfeld said in the offer statement.

    She increased Kraft’s annual cost savings target to at least $675 million by year three, up from $625 million, but made no mention of possible job losses at Cadbury 46,000 global workforce. She told Reuters in an interview that she found additional synergies after speaking to Cadbury’s Carr.

    One leading Cadbury investor, Standard Life Investments (SL.L), with a just-under-1-percent stake, said it supported the board’s decision to recommend the Kraft offer.

    “We are supportive of the management’s decision although the achieved price is slightly light of our stated target,” said David Cumming, head of UK equities at Standard Life.

    COUNTERBID NOT SEEN

    Analysts say a counter bid for Cadbury is unlikely. The UK Takeover Panel gave Hershey (HSY.N), the U.S.-based maker of Hershey’s Kisses and Reese’s peanut butter cups, and Italy’s Nutella chocolate spread and Tic-Tac candy maker Ferrero until January 25 to make a firm bid.

    Cadbury shareholders now have until February 2 to decide whether to accept a deal that values the shares at 13 times the group’s estimated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in 2009.

    “Looking at precedent transaction multiples around 15 times, if Kraft can get one of the best consumer staples for 13 times, then good luck to them. It gives Kraft the growth engine they’ve been craving for years,” said analyst Warren Ackerman at brokers Evolution Securities.

    Kraft said the deal would be accretive to 2011 earnings by around 5 cents on a cash basis and give a mid-teens percentage return on investment, well in excess of Kraft’s cost of capital.

    Cadbury unions have opposed the move fearing big job cuts and UK politicians have also weighed in, with general elections looming, and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown told a news conference after the deal was announced that he wanted to protect investment and jobs at Cadbury.

    “The one thing I want to say is this: we are determined that the levels of investment that take place in Cadbury’s in the United Kingdom are maintained,” he said.

    Felicity Loudon, a fourth generation member of Cadbury’s founding family was appalled that the iconic chocolate maker looked destined to fall to Kraft, and believes that jobs will be lost and that Cadbury chocolate will never taste the same.

    “I’m horrified, we shouldn’t give up. I just think there’s a cultural imbalance. For a quintessentially, philanthropic iconic brand to sell out to a plastic cheese company – there’s no mix there,” she told Reuters.

    (Additional reporting by Paul Sandle, Keith Weir, Sharon Lindores and Brad Dorfman) (Reporting by David Jones; editing by Dan Lalor and Sitaraman Shankar)

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  • KRAFT FOODS COMPANY: Recommended Final* Offer By Kraft Foods Inc. (“Kraft Foods”) For Cadbury Plc (“Cadbury”) Valuing Each Cadbury Share at 840 Pence

    Recommended Final* Offer By Kraft Foods Inc. (“Kraft Foods”) For Cadbury Plc (“Cadbury”) Valuing Each Cadbury Share at 840 Pence

    Recommended Final Offer terms

    • The board of Kraft Foods is pleased to announce the detailed terms of a recommended Final Offer for Cadbury and the board of Cadbury unanimously recommends Cadbury Securityholders to accept the terms of the Final Offer.
    • Under the terms of the Final Offer, Cadbury Securityholders will be entitled to receive:

    for each Cadbury Share

    500 pence in cash

    and

    0.1874 New Kraft Foods Shares

    for each Cadbury ADS

    2,000 pence in cash

    and

    0.7496 New Kraft Foods Shares

    representing, in aggregate, 840 pence per Cadbury Share and GBP 33.60 per Cadbury ADS.

    • In addition, Cadbury Shareholders will be entitled to receive 10 pence per Cadbury share by way of a Special Dividend following the date on which the Final Offer becomes or is declared unconditional.
    • The terms of the Final Offer reflect the strength of Cadbury’s business, its brands and the future potential for growth through the combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury.

    An attractive valuation and substantial long-term value creation potential as part of the Combined Group

    • Kraft Foods believes that the Final Offer represents a compelling opportunity for Cadbury Securityholders, providing the ability to receive approximately 60 per cent. of their consideration in cash and long-term value creation potential through a continued shareholding in the Combined Group.
    • The Final Offer represents an attractive multiple of 13.0 times Cadbury’s underlying 2009 EBITDA.
    • Kraft Foods believes a combination with Cadbury will provide the potential for meaningful cost savings and revenue synergies from which Cadbury Securityholders will benefit.

    Combination creates a global leader in the global foods and confectionery sector

    • Kraft Foods believes a combination represents a strong and complementary strategic fit, creating a global confectionery leader with a portfolio of more than 40 confectionery brands each with annual sales in excess of USD 100 million.
    • Kraft Foods and Cadbury have a highly complementary geographic footprint, providing the Combined Group with a leading presence in attractive global markets.
    • The Combined Group will have a leading position in developing markets, including in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and Mexico.
    • The Combined Group will benefit from important additional scale in the consolidating confectionery segments.
    • The Combined Group will have best-in-class infrastructure in both traditional and instant consumption routes to market.

    Management and employees

    • The combination will augment the world-class capabilities of both Kraft Foods and Cadbury by employing a “best of both” approach, from sales and marketing to distribution and management.
    • In particular, Kraft Foods believes that the global business network of the Combined Group will create opportunities for Cadbury employees and managers.
    • In addition, Kraft Foods has given assurances to Cadbury that, on the Final Offer becoming or being declared wholly unconditional, the existing contractual employment rights, including pension rights, of all employees will be fully safeguarded.

    Further details of the Final Offer

    • Kraft Foods also announces that it reserves the right to, and intends to, reduce the number of acceptances required to fulfil the Acceptance Condition from 90 per cent. to 50 per cent. plus one Cadbury Share on or after 26 January 2010.
    • The Final Offer does not require the approval of Kraft Foods Shareholders. Accordingly, the condition relating to such approval, as set out in the Original Offer Documents, is treated as satisfied for the purposes of the Final Offer.
    • Full acceptance of the Final Offer will result in the issue of 265 million New Kraft Foods Shares, representing approximately 18 per cent. of the existing issued share capital and 15 per cent. of the enlarged issued share capital of Kraft Foods.

    Commenting on the Offer, Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, said:

    “We have great respect for Cadbury’s brands, heritage and people. We believe they will thrive as part of Kraft Foods. This recommended offer represents a compelling opportunity for Cadbury Shareholders, providing both immediate value certainty and upside potential in the combined company. For Kraft Foods Shareholders it transforms the portfolio, accelerates long-term growth and delivers highly attractive returns, while maintaining financial discipline.”

    Commenting on the Offer, Roger Carr, Chairman of Cadbury, said:

    “We believe the offer represents good value for Cadbury shareholders and are pleased with the commitment that Kraft Foods has made to our heritage, values and people throughout the world. We will now work with the Kraft Foods’ management to ensure the continued success and growth of the business for the benefit of our customers, consumers and employees.”

    Cadbury Securityholders who have previously accepted the Original Offer (and have not withdrawn those acceptances) will automatically be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Final Offer by virtue of their prior acceptances and therefore need take no further action.

    Other Cadbury Securityholders who wish to accept the recommended Final Offer must take action to accept the Final Offer by 1.00 pm (London time) / 8.00 am (New York City time) on 2 February 2010. Details of the procedure for doing so will be set out in the Final Offer Documents (and, in the case of certificated Cadbury Shares and Cadbury ADSs, the Final Acceptance Forms) to be sent to Cadbury Securityholders as soon as practicable. The Final Offer Documents will also be available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/).

    This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of the following announcement.

    * The Offer is final and will not be increased, except that Kraft Foods reserves the right to increase the Offer if there is an announcement on or after the date hereof of an offer or a possible offer for Cadbury by a third party offeror or potential offeror.

    Enquiries to Kraft Foods:






    Kraft Foods



    Perry Yeatman

    (Media)

    +1 847 646 4538

    Chris Jakubik

    (Investors)

    +1 847 646 5494




    Lazard (lead financial adviser)



    Jeffrey Rosen

    +1 212 632 6000

    Antonio Weiss

    +1 212 632 6000

    William Rucker


    +44 20 7187 2000

    Peter Kiernan


    +44 20 7187 2000




    Centerview Partners (financial adviser)



    Robert Pruzan


    +1 212 380 2650




    Citigroup (corporate broking)



    David James

    +44 20 7986 4000

    Deutsche Bank (corporate broking)



    James Agnew


    +44 20 7545 8000




    Brunswick Group (public relations)



    Richard Jacques

    +44 20 7404 5959

    Jonathan Glass


    +44 20 7404 5959




    Financial advisers:

    Citigroup



    Leon Kalvaria






    Deutsche Bank



    Nigel Meek



    Further information

    This announcement is being made available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/). Copies of the Original Offer Document, the Prospectus, supplementary prospectuses and the Original US Offer Document, as applicable, are also available on Kraft Foods’ website. The Final Offer Documents and the related supplementary prospectus will be available on Kraft Foods’ website as soon as practicable.

    The conditions to which the Offer is subject are set out in Appendix I to the Original Offer Document (Appendix A to the Original US Offer Document), and certain further terms of the Final Offer will be set out in the Final Offer Documents and the Final Acceptance Forms. Appendix I to this announcement sets out the sources and bases of certain financial and other information contained in this announcement. Appendix II to this announcement contains definitions of certain expressions and terms used in this announcement.

    Lazard & Co., Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA, is acting as financial adviser to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard & Co., Limited, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Centerview Partners UK LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA, is acting as financial adviser to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Centerview Partners UK LLP, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Citigroup Global Markets Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA, is acting as financial adviser and corporate broker to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup Global Markets Limited, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin – Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the FSA. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG’s authorisation and regulation by the FSA are available on request. Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (and its affiliates) are acting as financial adviser and corporate broker to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (or its affiliates), nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Each of Goldman Sachs International, Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and UBS Investment Bank is acting exclusively for Cadbury and for no one else in connection to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Cadbury for the providing the protections afforded to their respective clients nor for providing advice in relation to such matters.

    This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement or otherwise. The Offer is being made by the Original Offer Documents, the Final Offer Documents and the accompanying documentation. This announcement is not a prospectus and investors should not subscribe for any New Kraft Foods Shares except on the basis of information in the Prospectus (including the supplementary prospectuses) or the Registration Statement (as appropriate) which have been published and/or filed and which are available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/) from time to time. The New Kraft Foods Shares are not being offered to the public by means of this announcement.

    This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the Takeover Code and the information disclosed herein may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England.

    The release, publication or distribution of this announcement and any other applicable Offer-related documentation in jurisdictions other than the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain, and the availability of the Offer to Cadbury Securityholders who are not resident in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain, may be affected by the laws or regulations of relevant jurisdictions. Therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain, or Cadbury Securityholders who are not resident in such jurisdictions should inform themselves of and observe any applicable requirements.

    The Offer is not being extended, and will not be extended, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone, internet or other forms of electronic communication) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Persons receiving this announcement (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees, and trustees) should observe these restrictions. Failure to observe these restrictions may render any purported acceptance of the Offer invalid.

    Kraft Foods reserves the right to elect, with the agreement of Cadbury and the consent of the Panel (where necessary), to implement the acquisition of Cadbury by way of a court-approved scheme of arrangement in accordance with Part 26 of the 2006 Act. In such event, the acquisition will be implemented on substantially the same terms, subject to appropriate amendments, as those which apply to the Offer.

    Notice to US investors

    This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer for, or any solicitation of any offer for securities, nor is it a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor will there be any purchase or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law or regulation.

    The Offer is being made pursuant to applicable US tender offer rules and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that may be different from those typically applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law.

    The receipt of cash and New Kraft Foods Shares pursuant to the Offer by a United States holder of Cadbury Shares may be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each holder of Cadbury Shares is urged to consult his independent professional adviser regarding the tax consequences of acceptance of the Offer.

    Cadbury is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. All or some of the directors of Cadbury are residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for Cadbury US Shareholders to effect service of process within the United States upon Cadbury or such directors of Cadbury or to enforce against any of such directors judgements of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. It may not be possible to sue Cadbury or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws.

    Forward-looking statements

    Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference in this announcement may constitute “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this announcement, other than those relating to historical information or current condition, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Kraft Foods, that could cause Kraft Foods’ actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, continued volatility of input costs, pricing actions, increased competition, Kraft Foods’ ability to differentiate its products from retailer brands, unanticipated expenses in connection with litigation, settlement of legal disputes, regulatory investigations or enforcement actions, Kraft Foods’ indebtedness and ability to pay its indebtedness, the shift in consumer preference to lower priced products, risks from operating outside the US, tax law changes, failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or required financing or to satisfy any of the other Conditions of the Offer, adverse effects on the market price of Kraft Foods Shares and on Kraft Foods’ operating results because of a failure to complete the proposed acquisition, failure to realise the expected benefits of the proposed acquisition, significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities and general economic and business conditions that affect the Combined Group following the completion of the proposed acquisition. For more information on these and other factors that could affect Kraft Foods’ forward-looking statements, please also see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus or the Original US Offer Document, as applicable, and the risk factors in Kraft Foods’ filings with the SEC, including Kraft Foods’ most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Kraft Foods disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this announcement except as required by applicable law or regulation.

    Additional US-related information

    Kraft Foods has filed the Registration Statement and tender offer documents with the SEC, which will be amended to reflect the terms of the Final Offer, and Cadbury will file an amendment to its solicitation / recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 in connection with the Offer. Cadbury US Shareholders, Cadbury Canadian Shareholders and Cadbury ADS Holders, wherever located, should read those filings, and any other filings to be made by Kraft Foods and Cadbury with the SEC in connection with the Offer as they contain important information. Those documents, as well as Kraft Foods’ other public filings with the SEC may be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at Kraft Foods’ website at www.kraftfoodscompany.com. In this announcement, Kraft Foods has presented the Offer by referring to multiples of Cadbury’s underlying earnings per share and underlying EBITDA under IFRS. Underlying earnings per share and EBITDA are non-US GAAP measures for IFRS purposes. The Registration Statement includes a discussion of the reasons why Kraft Foods’ management believes that Kraft Foods’ presentation of multiples of Cadbury’s underlying earnings per share and underlying EBITDA under IFRS provides useful information to Cadbury Securityholders and disclosure of the limitations of underlying earnings per share and EBITDA as an analytical tool.

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION

    For Immediate Release

    19 January 2010

    RECOMMENDED FINAL(1) OFFER

    by

    KRAFT FOODS INC. (“KRAFT FOODS”)

    for

    CADBURY PLC (“CADBURY”)

    VALUING EACH CADBURY SHARE AT 840 PENCE

    1. Introduction

    The board of Kraft Foods is pleased to announce the detailed terms of a recommended Final(1) Offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cadbury. The board of Cadbury unanimously recommends Cadbury Securityholders to accept the terms of the Final Offer.

    2. The Final(1) Offer

    Under the terms of the Final Offer, Cadbury Securityholders will be entitled to receive:

    for each Cadbury Share

    500 pence in cash

    and

    0.1874 New Kraft Foods Shares

    for each Cadbury ADS

    2,000 pence in cash

    and

    0.7496 New Kraft Foods Shares

    representing, in aggregate, 840 pence per Cadbury Share and GBP 33.60 per Cadbury ADS (based on the closing share price of USD 29.58 per Kraft Foods Share on 15 January 2010, the last trading day prior to the date of this announcement, and an exchange rate of USD 1.63 to GBP 1.00 as at 18 January 2010).

    In addition, Cadbury has advised Kraft Foods that Cadbury Shareholders will be receiving 10 pence per Cadbury Share by way of a Special Dividend. This will, in effect, enable Cadbury Shareholders to receive 10 pence out of the planned final dividend of 12.3 pence per share previously announced by Cadbury, subject to board and shareholder approval, which would otherwise not become payable.(2)

    Assuming the vesting and exercise of all share options and awards under the Cadbury Share Schemes:

    • the Final Offer values the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cadbury at approximately GBP 11.9 billion; and
    • 265 million New Kraft Foods Shares will be issued (assuming full acceptance of the Final Offer), representing approximately 18 per cent. of the existing share capital and 15 per cent. of the enlarged share capital of Kraft Foods.

    The terms of the Final Offer supersede those of the Original Offer. The terms of the Original Offer are no longer capable of acceptance. Further information in relation to the Final Offer is set out in sections 11 and 16 of this announcement.

    Mix and Match Facility

    Cadbury Securityholders who accept the Final Offer may make elections under the Mix and Match Facility. Under the Mix and Match Facility, accepting Cadbury Securityholders may elect to vary the proportions in which they receive New Kraft Foods Shares and cash consideration, subject to off-setting elections being made by other Cadbury Securityholders. To the extent that elections cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled down on a pro-rata basis.

    Reduction of Acceptance Condition

    Kraft Foods also announces that it reserves the right to, and intends to, reduce the number of acceptances required to fulfil the Acceptance Condition from 90 per cent. to 50 per cent. plus one Cadbury Share on or after 26 January 2010.

    If the Acceptance Condition is satisfied and all other Conditions have been satisfied, fulfilled or, to the extent permitted, waived, the Offer will be declared wholly unconditional at that time and withdrawal rights will terminate (except in limited circumstances). Cadbury Securityholders who have already accepted the Offer, but whose willingness to accept the Offer is affected by the reduction of the Acceptance Condition, may wish to consider withdrawing their acceptances with respect to such Cadbury Shares promptly.

    Condition regarding approval of Kraft Foods Shareholders

    The issue of New Kraft Foods Shares pursuant to the Final Offer does not require the approval of Kraft Foods Shareholders. Accordingly, the condition relating to such approvals is treated as satisfied for the purposes of the Final Offer.

    3. The creation of a global leader in the food and confectionery industry

    The board of Kraft Foods believes that a combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury represents a strong and complementary strategic fit, creating a global confectionery leader, with a portfolio including more than 40 confectionery brands, each with annual sales in excess of USD 100 million. Globally, the Combined Group would be number one in the chocolate and sugar confectionery segments and a strong number two in the high growth gum segment. Cadbury’s leading brands, such as Cadbury, Trident and Halls, are highly complementary to Kraft Foods’ portfolio and would benefit from Kraft Foods’ global scope, scale and array of proprietary technologies and processes. In addition, the acquisition of Cadbury will significantly enhance the strength of Kraft Foods’ presence in the confectionery sector, enabling Kraft Foods to leverage Cadbury’s product development capabilities.

    Kraft Foods believes that confectionery markets are consolidating and scale is becoming increasingly important, in part due to retailers’ increasing bargaining power, control of the supply chain and growing portfolio of their own retailer brands, which have benefited from the global economic climate. The combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury provides the Combined Group with important additional scale to compete even more effectively in the confectionery sector.

    Kraft Foods and Cadbury have highly complementary geographic footprints. Importantly, a combination would increase scale for both companies in developing markets such as Brazil, Russia and China, where Kraft Foods has a stronger presence, and India, Mexico and South Africa, where Cadbury holds leading positions. The Combined Group would also benefit from an improved position across Europe, including in France and Spain.

    Kraft Foods’ and Cadbury’s routes to market are also highly complementary. Kraft Foods is particularly strong in the grocery channel in North America and Western Europe, while Cadbury is well positioned in instant consumption channels, which have become increasingly important in both developed and developing markets. A combination provides an enhanced platform for the Combined Group to distribute both Cadbury’s and Kraft Foods’ products through both channels, creating an attractive opportunity for higher growth and margins.

    4. The Final Offer represents an attractive opportunity for Cadbury Securityholders

    The Final Offer equates to an enterprise value multiple of 13.0 times Cadbury’s underlying 2009 EBITDA(3), based on the closing share price of USD 29.58 per Kraft Foods Share on 15 January 2010, and an exchange rate of USD 1.63 to GBP 1.00 as at 18 January 2010. The enterprise value multiple is calculated assuming the exercise of all share options and vesting of all share awards held under the Cadbury Share Schemes.

    5. Substantial synergy benefits

    The combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury is expected to provide the potential for meaningful revenue synergies over time from investments in distribution, marketing and product development. In addition, it is expected that pre-tax cost savings of at least USD 675 million annually can be realised by the end of the third year following completion. Total one-off implementation cash costs of approximately USD 1.3 billion are expected to be incurred in the first three years following completion.(4)

    Both Kraft Foods and Cadbury have implemented extensive cost saving and operating efficiency programmes in recent years and have already delivered significant margin improvement and revenue growth improvements. These annual cost savings are still expected to be achieved over and above the current performance improvement plans at each of Kraft Foods and Cadbury (including Cadbury’s updated Vision into Action programme). While it is anticipated that these targeted savings will continue to be delivered, Kraft Foods believes that the Combined Group would be capable of achieving substantial further cost savings through economies of scale and procurement benefits, general and administrative cost savings and marketing and selling costs savings.

    Cadbury Securityholders are able to share in the synergies resulting from the combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury through the share component of the Offer.

    6. Recommendation

    The board of Cadbury, which has been so advised by Goldman Sachs International, Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and UBS Investment Bank considers the terms of the Final Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing their financial advice to the board of Cadbury, Goldman Sachs International, Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and UBS Investment Bank have taken into account the board’s commercial assessments.

    Accordingly, the board of Cadbury unanimously recommends Cadbury Securityholders to accept the terms of the Final Offer.

    7. Financial effects of the transaction

    Kraft Foods believes that the Final Offer will deliver the following key benefits:

    • accretion to earnings per share in 2011 of approximately USD 0.05 on a cash basis; and(4)
    • a mid teens return on investment, well in excess of Kraft Foods’ cost of capital(4).

    • Kraft Foods believes that the Final Offer is consistent with its commitment to maintain a financially disciplined approach and is well within the key criteria outlined in Kraft Foods’ announcement of a possible offer for Cadbury on 7 September 2009:
    • accretion to earnings in the second year following completion on a cash basis(3) (which excludes the one-time costs to achieve synergies and expenses related to the transaction and the impact of non-cash items such as the amortisation of intangibles after acquisition);
    • a return on investment in excess of Kraft Foods’ cost of capital within an acceptable timeframe;(4)
    • retention of Kraft Foods’ investment-grade credit rating; and
    • maintenance of Kraft Foods’ dividend.

    Following the combination with Cadbury, Kraft Foods expects to revise its long-term growth targets to 5+ per cent. for revenue and 9-11 per cent. for earnings per share, from its previously announced 4+ per cent. and 7-9 per cent. respectively.(4)

    In addition, the acquisition is expected to enhance the quality of the Combined Group’s earnings, and create a business with strong discretionary cash flow generation and attractive revenue growth prospects across a diversified portfolio of brands and product groups worldwide.

    8. Financing the cash consideration

    Kraft Foods is providing the cash consideration payable by it under the Final Offer from its own resources, funds available from an amended bridge facility that has been arranged by a syndicate of banks and/or proceeds from alternative financing sources. A summary of the amended bridge facility will be included in the Final Offer Documents.

    Lazard & Co., Limited, Centerview Partners UK LLP, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch are satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Kraft Foods to satisfy in full the cash consideration payable by it as a result of full acceptance of the Final Offer.

    9. Management, employees and locations

    Kraft Foods believes that the combination of Cadbury and Kraft Foods represents a strong, complementary fit and expects that the combination will enhance the Combined Group’s growth profile(3). The combination will augment the world-class capabilities of both Kraft Foods and Cadbury by employing a “best of both” approach, from sales and marketing to distribution and management. In particular, Kraft Foods believes that the global business network of the Combined Group will create opportunities for Cadbury employees and managers.

    In addition, Kraft Foods has given assurances to Cadbury that, on the Offer becoming or being declared wholly unconditional, the existing contractual employment rights, including pension rights, of all Cadbury Group employees will be fully safeguarded.

    10. Kraft Foods offers an excellent investment opportunity

    Kraft Foods believes that scale is important in the global food industry

    As the world’s second largest food company, with 2008 revenues of USD 41.9 billion, Kraft Foods has significant global scale, with operations in more than 70 countries. While the US is a key market and Kraft Foods is the number one food company there based on retail sales, Kraft Foods generated approximately half of its revenues from outside the US in 2008 and sells its products in approximately 150 countries around the world.

    Kraft Foods believes that its portfolio of leading brands is one of the strongest in the global food industry, with nine of its brands generating annual revenues exceeding USD 1 billion each. Kraft Foods’ objective is to be the category leader in its principal markets and it generates 80 per cent. of its revenues from categories in which it holds the number one position.

    Over the past three years, Kraft Foods’ management has successfully re-positioned the company for sustainable, profitable growth by reframing its categories, capitalising on its established sales capabilities and driving down costs without compromising its commitment to high quality. Kraft Foods’ strategy is centred on marketing and developing leading consumer brands and pursuing growth opportunities to deliver shareholder value. Kraft Foods remains confident in meeting its long-term performance targets.

    Kraft Foods has upgraded its EPS guidance

    On 12 January 2010, Kraft Foods increased its guidance for 2009 diluted earnings per share, to at least USD 2.00 (up approximately five per cent. from 2008) versus the previous expectation of at least USD 1.97(5). This increased guidance reflects strong operating gains as well as a significant increase in marketing investments versus the prior year. Kraft Foods expects to achieve this level of diluted earnings per share while continuing to increase investment behind its brands, with advertising and consumer marketing spending expected to grow to approximately 7 per cent. of sales in 2009 from 6.7 per cent. of sales in 2008.

    Kraft Foods’ share price

    Since the announcement of its possible offer for Cadbury on 7 September 2009, Kraft Foods believes its share price performance has been adversely affected by a number of factors of a short-term nature, including: (i) concern that it will not maintain financial discipline regarding an acquisition of Cadbury; (ii) concern that the issuance of Kraft Foods Shares to certain Cadbury Securityholders may result in “flowback” of such shares; and (iii) short selling activity. Kraft Foods believes that, following completion of its acquisition of Cadbury, these short-term pressures on its share price should dissipate.

    By way of illustration, Kraft Foods notes the following:

    • Kraft Foods has historically traded on a current year price earnings multiple broadly in line with that of the S&P 500 Index. Based on Kraft Foods’ own guidance for its 2009 diluted earnings per share of at least USD 2.00(5), Kraft Foods’ historical 2009 price earnings multiple is 14.8 times as at 15 January 2010 (the last trading day prior to the publication of this announcement). The historical 2009 price earnings multiple of the S&P 500 Index is 24.4 times as at the same date;
    • between 4 September 2009 (the last Business Day preceding the announcement of its possible offer for Cadbury) and 15 January 2010 (the last trading day prior to the publication of this announcement), the Kraft Foods Share price has increased by approximately 5.3 per cent. from USD 28.10 to USD 29.58. However, the S&P 500 Index has increased by approximately 11.8 per cent. over the same period;
    • analysts’ consensus price target for Kraft Foods Shares is USD 32.67 and 92 per cent. of Kraft Foods’ current analyst recommendations are either a “buy” or a “hold”; and
    • Kraft Foods Shares currently have a dividend yield of approximately 4 per cent.

    11. Further information on the Final Offer

    Cadbury Securityholders who have previously accepted the Original Offer (and have not withdrawn those acceptances) will automatically be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Final Offer by virtue of their prior acceptances and therefore need take no further action.

    Other Cadbury Securityholders who wish to accept the recommended Final Offer must take action to accept the Final Offer by 1.00 pm (London time) / 8.00 am (New York City time) on 2 February 2010. Details of the procedure for doing so will be set out in the Final Offer Documents (and, in the case of certificated Cadbury Shares and Cadbury ADSs, the Final Acceptance Forms) to be sent to Cadbury Securityholders as soon as practicable. The Final Offer Documents will also be available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/).

    In addition to offering the consideration made available under the terms of the Final Offer, Kraft Foods is continuing to provide: (a) accepting Cadbury Securityholders with the Mix and Match Facility, which Kraft Foods has determined will remain open until the end of the Subsequent Offer Period; (b) a facility under which accepting Cadbury Shareholders may elect to receive all cash consideration to which they are entitled in US dollars, if they do not wish to receive it in pounds sterling; (c) a facility under which accepting Cadbury ADS Holders may elect to receive all cash consideration to which they are entitled in pounds sterling, if they do not wish to receive it in US dollars; (d) a facility under which accepting Cadbury Shareholders will, subject to certain exceptions, receive New Kraft Foods Shares in the form of CDIs, which are capable of being held, transferred and settled in CREST; and (e) a designated UK agent to assist small shareholders resident in certain jurisdictions in holding, trading and managing their CDI interests in the New Kraft Foods Shares.

    Further details of the Mix and Match Facility, currency elections and Kraft Foods CDIs are set out in the Original Offer Documents and further details of the Final Offer will be set out in the Final Offer Documents which will be sent to Cadbury Securityholders as soon as practicable. The Final Offer Documents are also being made available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/) and, together with the Final Acceptance Forms, on request from the Receiving Agent or the US Information Agent (as applicable).

    12. Cadbury Share Schemes

    The Final Offer extends to any Cadbury Shares unconditionally allotted or issued before the Final Offer closes (or such earlier time as Kraft Foods may, subject to the rules of the Takeover Code, decide) as a result of the exercise of options or vesting of awards granted under any of the Cadbury Share Schemes. Appropriate proposals will be made in due course to holders of options and awards granted under the Cadbury Share Schemes.

    The benefit of Cadbury’s Special Dividend of 10 pence per share will be extended to participants in the Cadbury Share Schemes.

    13. Break fee arrangement

    Cadbury has agreed to pay an inducement fee of GBP 117.7 million in circumstances where a competing offer is announced and either is recommended by Cadbury or that offer or another third party offer becomes unconditional and the Final Offer lapses or is withdrawn, unless, prior to such announcement, Cadbury withdraws its recommendation for reasons demonstrably unrelated to such competing offer.

    14. Overseas shareholders

    The availability of the Final Offer and of the New Kraft Foods Shares to persons not resident in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain may be affected by the laws or regulations of relevant jurisdictions. Such persons should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements. Further details in relation to overseas shareholders will be set out in the Final Offer Documents.

    15. Small Dealing Facility

    Subject to clarifying certain legal and regulatory considerations and with the agreement of the Panel, Kraft Foods has agreed to consider offering a free dealing facility to Cadbury Shareholders who own not more than 10,000 Cadbury Shares under which the New Kraft Foods Shares to which such Cadbury Shareholders become entitled under the Final Offer may be sold for their benefit at no cost. Details of such facility, if provided, will be communicated to Cadbury Shareholders in due course.

    16. General and documentation

    The Final Offer remains subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I to the Original Offer Document (Appendix A to the Original US Offer Document) save that the Final Offer does not require the approval of Kraft Foods Shareholders and that European and US competition clearances have been obtained. The Final Offer also remains on and subject to the terms set out in the Original Offer Documents as such further terms have been revised in connection with the Final Offer as will be set out in the Final Offer Documents and Final Acceptance Forms. The relevant Final Offer Documents and Final Acceptance Forms will be sent to Cadbury Securityholders (other than to certain overseas shareholders) and, for information purposes, to persons with information rights and to participants in the Cadbury Share Schemes, as soon as practicable.

    The procedure for accepting the terms of the Final Offer will be set out in the Final Offer Documents which are also being made available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/) and, together with the Final Acceptance Forms, on request from the Receiving Agent or the US Information Agent (as applicable). The Prospectus and any supplementary prospectuses in respect of the New Kraft Foods Shares are or, where applicable, will also be available on Kraft Foods’ website.

    Appendix I to this announcement sets out the sources and bases of certain financial and other information contained in this announcement. Appendix II to this announcement contains definitions of certain expressions and terms used in this announcement.

    (1) The Offer is final and will not be increased, except that Kraft Foods reserves the right to increase the Offer if there is an announcement on or after the date hereof of an offer or a possible offer for Cadbury by a third party offeror or potential offeror.

    (2) The payment date for the Special Dividend will be 14 days following the date on which the Final Offer becomes or is declared wholly unconditional or such other date as Cadbury and Kraft Foods may agree. The payment of the Special Dividend will be conditional on the Final Offer becoming wholly unconditional.

    (3) Underlying EBITDA is as defined by Cadbury. Cadbury Annual Reports and Accounts state that underlying figures include adjustments for restructuring costs, non-trading items, amortisation and impairment of acquisition intangibles, derivative accounting and any associated tax effect.

    (4) Nothing in this announcement apart from the Profit Estimate is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that the earnings per Kraft Foods Share for the current or future financial periods will necessarily be greater than those for the relevant preceding financial period.

    (5) The updated diluted earnings per share profit estimate was announced on 12 January 2010 and reported on for the purposes of the Takeover Code by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and by the Financial Advisers. The updated profit estimate and copies of the accompanying reports will be set out in the Final Offer Document.

    Kraft Enquiries:






    Kraft Foods



    Perry Yeatman

    (Media)

    +1 847 646 4538

    Chris Jakubik

    (Investors)

    +1 847 646 5494




    Lazard (lead financial adviser)



    Jeffrey Rosen

    +1 212 632 6000

    Antonio Weiss

    +1 212 632 6000

    William Rucker


    +44 20 7187 2000

    Peter Kiernan


    +44 20 7187 2000




    Centerview Partners (financial adviser)



    Robert Pruzan


    +1 212 380 2650




    Citigroup (corporate broking)



    David James

    +44 20 7986 4000

    Deutsche Bank (corporate broking)



    James Agnew


    +44 20 7545 8000




    Brunswick Group (public relations)



    Richard Jacques

    +44 20 7404 5959

    Jonathan Glass


    +44 20 7404 5959




    Financial advisers:

    Citigroup



    Leon Kalvaria






    Deutsche Bank



    Nigel Meek



    Further information

    This announcement is being made available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/). Copies of the Original Offer Document, the Prospectus, supplementary prospectuses and the Original US Offer Document, as applicable, are also available on Kraft Foods’ website. The Final Offer Documents and the related supplementary prospectus will be available on Kraft Foods’ website as soon as practicable.

    The conditions to which the Offer is subject are set out in Appendix I to the Original Offer Document (Appendix A to the Original US Offer Document), and certain further terms of the Final Offer will be set out in the Final Offer Documents and the Final Acceptance Forms. Appendix I to this announcement sets out the sources and bases of certain financial and other information contained in this announcement. Appendix II to this announcement contains definitions of certain expressions and terms used in this announcement.

    Lazard & Co., Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA, is acting as financial adviser to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard & Co., Limited, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Centerview Partners UK LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA, is acting as financial adviser to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Centerview Partners UK LLP, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Citigroup Global Markets Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA, is acting as financial adviser and corporate broker to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup Global Markets Limited, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin – Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the FSA. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG’s authorisation and regulation by the FSA are available on request. Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (and its affiliates) are acting as financial adviser and corporate broker to Kraft Foods and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and the Offer and will not be responsible to any person other than Kraft Foods for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (or its affiliates), nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any matters referred to herein.

    Each of Goldman Sachs International, Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and UBS Investment Bank is acting exclusively for Cadbury and for no one else in connection to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Cadbury for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients nor for providing advice in relation to such matters.

    This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement or otherwise. The Offer is being made by the Original Offer Documents, the Final Offer Documents and the accompanying documentation. This announcement is not a prospectus and investors should not subscribe for any New Kraft Foods Shares except on the basis of information in the Prospectus (including the supplementary prospectuses) or the Registration Statement (as appropriate) which have been published and/or filed and which are available on Kraft Foods’ website (www.transactioninfo.com/kraftfoods/) from time to time. The New Kraft Foods Shares are not being offered to the public by means of this announcement.

    This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the Takeover Code and the information disclosed herein may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England.

    The release, publication or distribution of this announcement and any other applicable Offer-related documentation in jurisdictions other than the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain, and the availability of the Offer to Cadbury Securityholders who are not resident in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain, may be affected by the laws or regulations of relevant jurisdictions. Therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the UK, the US, Canada, France, Ireland or Spain, or Cadbury Securityholders who are not resident in such jurisdictions should inform themselves of and observe any applicable requirements.

    The Offer is not being extended, and will not be extended, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone, internet or other forms of electronic communication) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Persons receiving this announcement (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees, and trustees) should observe these restrictions. Failure to observe these restrictions may render any purported acceptance of the Offer invalid.

    Kraft Foods reserves the right to elect, with the agreement of Cadbury and the consent of the Panel (where necessary), to implement the acquisition of Cadbury by way of a court-approved scheme of arrangement in accordance with Part 26 of the 2006 Act. In such event, the acquisition will be implemented on substantially the same terms, subject to appropriate amendments, as those which apply to the Offer.

    Notice to US investors

    This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer for, or any solicitation of any offer for securities, nor is it a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor will there be any purchase or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law or regulation.

    The Offer is being made pursuant to applicable US tender offer rules and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that may be different from those typically applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law.

    The receipt of cash and New Kraft Foods Shares pursuant to the Offer by a United States holder of Cadbury Shares may be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each holder of Cadbury Shares is urged to consult his independent professional adviser regarding the tax consequences of acceptance of the Offer.

    Cadbury is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. All or some of the directors of Cadbury are residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for Cadbury US Shareholders to effect service of process within the United States upon Cadbury or such directors of Cadbury or to enforce against any of such directors judgements of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. It may not be possible to sue Cadbury or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws.

    Forward-looking statements

    Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference in this announcement may constitute “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this announcement, other than those relating to historical information or current condition, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Kraft Foods, that could cause Kraft Foods’ actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, continued volatility of input costs, pricing actions, increased competition, Kraft Foods’ ability to differentiate its products from retailer brands, unanticipated expenses in connection with litigation, settlement of legal disputes, regulatory investigations or enforcement actions, Kraft Foods’ indebtedness and ability to pay its indebtedness, the shift in consumer preference to lower priced products, risks from operating outside the US, tax law changes, failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or required financing or to satisfy any of the other Conditions of the Offer, adverse effects on the market price of Kraft Foods Shares and on Kraft Foods’ operating results because of a failure to complete the proposed acquisition, failure to realise the expected benefits of the proposed acquisition, significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities and general economic and business conditions that affect the Combined Group following the completion of the proposed acquisition. For more information on these and other factors that could affect Kraft Foods’ forward-looking statements, please also see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus or in the Original US Offer Document, as applicable, and the risk factors in Kraft Foods’ filings with the SEC, including Kraft Foods’ most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Kraft Foods disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this announcement except as required by applicable law or regulation.

    Additional US-related information

    Kraft Foods has filed the Registration Statement and tender offer documents with the SEC, which will be amended to reflect the terms of the Offer, and Cadbury will file an amendment to its solicitation / recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 in connection with the Final Offer . Cadbury US Shareholders, Cadbury Canadian Shareholders and Cadbury ADS Holders, wherever located, should read those filings, and any other filings to be made by Kraft Foods and Cadbury with the SEC in connection with the Offer as they contain important information. Those documents, as well as Kraft Foods’ other public filings with the SEC may be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at Kraft Foods’ website at www.kraftfoodscompany.com. In this announcement, Kraft Foods has presented the Offer by referring to multiples of Cadbury’s underlying earnings per share and underlying EBITDA under IFRS. Underlying earnings per share and EBITDA are non-US GAAP measures for IFRS purposes. The Registration Statement includes a discussion of the reasons why Kraft Foods’ management believes that Kraft Foods’ presentation of multiples of Cadbury’s underlying earnings per share and underlying EBITDA under IFRS provides useful information to Cadbury Securityholders and disclosure of the limitations of underlying earnings per share and EBITDA as an analytical tool.

    APPENDIX I: SOURCES AND BASES

    (a)

    Unless otherwise stated, financial and other information concerning Cadbury and Kraft Foods has been extracted from published sources or from Kraft Foods’ management sources.

    (b)

    Cadbury’s issued and to be issued share capital is based upon 1,373,872,386 Cadbury Shares in issue as at 18 January 2010 as disclosed by Cadbury in its Regulatory Information Service announcement made in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Takeover Code dated 18 January 2010 and 39,310,631 Cadbury Shares that could be issued to satisfy the exercise and vesting of options and awards under the Cadbury Share Schemes (assuming exercise and vesting of such options and awards in full) as at the close of business on 14 January 2010 based on the figure of 39,478,935 Cadbury Shares disclosed in the Cadbury Second Defence Document as updated by figures disclosed on behalf of Cadbury to Lazard & Co., Limited on 15 January 2010 for the purposes of Note 3 on Rule 10 of the Takeover Code.

    (c)

    The stated share prices of Cadbury are based on the closing middle-market prices as derived from the daily official list of the London Stock Exchange on any particular date.

    (d)

    The stated exchange rate of USD 1.63 to GBP 1.00 is as quoted by WM / Reuters on 18 January 2010.

    (e)

    The share prices of Kraft Foods are based on the closing prices provided by the NYSE on any particular date.

    (f)

    The Final Offer value per Cadbury Share is based on the cash value of 500 pence and 0.1874 New Kraft Foods Shares offered per Cadbury Share, the Kraft Foods closing share price of USD 29.58 as at 15 January 2010 and the exchange rate of USD 1.63 to GBP 1.00 (as quoted by the NYSE and WM / Reuters on 18 January 2010, the last trading day preceding this announcement).

    (g)

    The issuance of New Kraft Foods Shares and their value as a percentage of the existing and enlarged share capital is based on:

    (i) 1,413,183,017 Cadbury Shares in issue and to be issued as in (b) above;

    (ii) the number of New Kraft Foods Shares offered for each Cadbury Share pursuant

    to the Final Offer resulting in 264,830,497 Kraft Foods Shares in total being issued

    to Cadbury Securityholders;

    (iii) 1,478,590,016 Kraft Foods Shares in issue as announced by Kraft Foods on 18

    January 2010 for the purpose of Rule 2.10 of the Takeover Code; and

    (iv) the enlarged issued share capital of 1,743,420,513 Kraft Foods Shares (which is

    the sum of (g)(ii) and (h)(iii) above).

    (h)

    The stated Final Offer enterprise value to underlying 2009 EBITDA multiple of 13.0 times is based on:

    (i) Cadbury’s stated estimate of underlying 2009 EBITDA in the Cadbury Second

    Defence Document, where Cadbury states that its estimate comprises underlying

    profit and underlying depreciation and amortisation. Underlying is defined by

    Cadbury to mean adjusted for restructuring costs, non-trading items, amortisation

    and impairment of acquisition intangibles, derivative accounting and any associated

    tax effect; and

    (ii) an estimated enterprise value of GBP 13.3 billion, based on the sum of Cadbury’s

    net debt (excluding hedging instruments) of GBP 1,375 million minus adjustments

    of GBP 9 million for book value of associates, trade investments and minority

    interests as at 31 December 2009, plus GBP 141 million for the cost of the Special

    Dividend minus GBP 99 million which would be received from the exercise of options

    pursuant to the adjustment to the number of shares as stated in (b) if all options that

    Cadbury has disclosed as outstanding as at 14 January 2010 were exercised in full

    (the amount actually received by Cadbury will depend on the extent to which options

    vest and the extent to which vested options are exercised and is likely to be lower

    than the maximum amount) and an Offer value of GBP 11.9 billion (as justified by

    (b), (d) and (e) above).

    (i)

    The statement that Kraft Foods has historically traded on a current year price earnings multiple broadly in line with that of the S&P 500 Index is based on the average current year price earnings multiples over the five year period ended 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement) for Kraft Foods and the S&P 500 Index of 16.2 times and 15.7 times respectively as sourced from Factset.

    (j)

    The increase of approximately 5.3 per cent. in the price of Kraft Foods Shares from 4 September 2009 to 15 January 2010 is based on the closing share price of USD 28.10 per Kraft Foods Share on 4 September 2009 (the last Business Day preceding the announcement by Kraft Foods of a possible offer for Cadbury) and the closing share price of USD 29.58 per Kraft Foods Share on 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement).

    (k)

    The increase in the S&P 500 Index of approximately 11.8 per cent. from 4 September 2009 to 15 January 2010 is based on the closing S&P 500 Index value of 1,016 on 4 September 2009 (the last Business Day preceding the announcement by Kraft Foods of a possible offer for Cadbury) and the closing S&P 500 Index value of 1,136 on 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement) as sourced from Datastream.

    (l)

    The stated historical 2009 price earnings ratio of Kraft Foods of 14.8 times is based on the closing share price of USD 29.58 per Kraft Foods Share as at 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement) and the Kraft Foods guidance for 2009 diluted earnings per share of at least USD 2.00(5). The historical 2009 price earnings multiple of the S&P 500 Index of 24.4 times is sourced from Factset as at 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement).

    (m)

    The quoted analyst consensus price target for Kraft Foods of USD 32.67 and percentage of “buy” or “hold” recommendations of 92 per cent. are sourced from Bloomberg as at 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement).

    (n)

    The stated dividend yield of approximately 4 per cent. for Kraft Foods is sourced from Bloomberg as at 15 January 2010 (the last trading day preceding this announcement).

    (o)

    The statement that Kraft Foods expects the Final Offer will be approximately USD 0.05 accretive to earnings per share on a cash basis in 2011 is based on Kraft Foods’ internal projections for the Kraft Foods Group and those of the Combined Group.

    (p)

    The statement that Kraft Foods expects the Final Offer will deliver a mid teens return on investment is based on Kraft Foods’ internal projections for the Kraft Foods Group and those of the Combined Group.

    APPENDIX II: DEFINITIONS

    In this announcement, the following definitions apply unless the context requires otherwise:

    “1985 Act”

    the Companies Act 1985 of the UK

    “2006 Act”

    the Companies Act 2006 of the UK

    “Acceptance Condition”

    the Condition set out in paragraph 1(a) of Appendix I to the Original Offer Document

    “Acceptance Forms”

    the Original Acceptance Forms and the Final Acceptance Forms

    “Business Day”

    any day on which banks are generally open in London for the transaction of general banking business, other than Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday

    “Cadbury”

    Cadbury plc, incorporated under the 1985 Act with registered number 06497379

    “Cadbury ADS Holders”

    holders of Cadbury ADSs

    “Cadbury ADSs”

    American Depositary Shares in respect of and each representing four Cadbury Shares (and, for the purposes of this announcement shall be deemed to include the Cadbury Shares represented thereby)

    “Cadbury Annual Report and Accounts”

    Cadbury’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2008

    “Cadbury Canadian Shareholder”

    a Cadbury Shareholder resident in Canada

    “Cadbury First Defence Document”

    the first defence document relating to the Original Offer published by Cadbury on 14 December 2009

    “Cadbury Group”

    Cadbury and its subsidiary undertakings and, where the context permits, each of them

    “Cadbury Half Yearly Report”

    the half yearly report issued by Cadbury on 29 July 2009

    “Cadbury Second Defence Document”

    the second defence document relating to the Original Offer published by Cadbury on 12 January 2010 and updated on 14 January 2010

    “Cadbury Securityholders”

    Cadbury Shareholders and/or Cadbury ADS Holders (as the context requires)

    “Cadbury Share Schemes”

    Cadbury Schweppes Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 1982, Cadbury plc 2008 Savings-Related Share Option Scheme, Cadbury Schweppes Share Option Plan 1994, Cadbury Schweppes Share Option Plan 2004, Cadbury Schweppes (New Issue) Share Option Plan 2004, Cadbury Schweppes Irish Savings Related Share Option Scheme, Cadbury plc 2008 Irish Savings-Related Share Option Scheme, Cadbury Schweppes Irish AVC Savings-Related Share Option Scheme, Cadbury plc 2008 Irish AVC Savings-Related Share Option Scheme, Cadbury Schweppes International Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 1998, Cadbury plc 2008 International Savings-Related Share Option Scheme, Cadbury Schweppes plc US Employees Share Option Plan 2005, Cadbury plc 2008 US Employees Share Option Plan, Cadbury Schweppes plc Americas Employee Share Option Plan 2005, Cadbury plc 2008 Americas Employee Share Option Plan, Cadbury Schweppes Long-term Incentive Plans 1997 and 2004, Cadbury Schweppes Bonus Share Retention Plan 2004, Cadbury Schweppes International Share Award Plan, Cadbury plc 2008 Bonus Share Retention Plan, Cadbury plc 2008 Long-term Incentive Plan, Cadbury plc 2008 International Share Award Plan and Cadbury plc 2008 Share Option Plan

    “Cadbury Shareholders”

    holders of Cadbury Shares

    “Cadbury Shares”

    the existing unconditionally allotted or issued and fully paid (or credited as fully paid) ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the capital of Cadbury (including those represented by Cadbury ADSs) and any further such shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued and fully paid (or credited as fully paid) before the Offer closes (or before such earlier time as Kraft Foods may, subject to the Takeover Code, decide), but excluding in both cases any such shares held or which become held in treasury

    “Cadbury US Shareholder”

    a US holder (within the meaning of Rule 14d-1(d) under the US Securities Exchange Act) of Cadbury Shares

    “CDI”

    a CREST depositary interest representing an entitlement to a share

    “Combined Group”

    the Cadbury Group and the Kraft Foods Group, following completion of the Final Offer

    “Conditions”

    the conditions of the Final Offer set out in Part A of Appendix I to the Original Offer Document and Part A of Appendix A to the Original US Offer Document and “Condition” means any one of them

    “CREST”

    the relevant system (as defined in the Regulations) in respect of which Euroclear is the operator (as defined in the Regulations)

    “Final Acceptance Forms”

    the Final Form of Acceptance, the Final ADS Letter of Transmittal and any other form to be issued by or on behalf of Kraft Foods in connection with the acceptance of the Final Offer

    “Final ADS Letter of Transmittal”

    the ADS Letter of Transmittal for use by Cadbury ADS Holders in connection with the acceptance of the Final Offer in respect of Cadbury Shares represented by Cadbury ADSs

    “Final Form of Acceptance”

    a revised Form of Acceptance to be issued in connection with the acceptance of the Final Offer

    “Financial Advisers”

    Lazard & Co., Limited, Centerview Partners UK LLP, Citigroup Global Markets and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (and its affiliates)

    “Financial Services Authority” or “FSA”

    the UK Financial Services Authority

    “Final Offer”

    the Offer, as revised, and being made available to accepting Cadbury Securityholders as described in this announcement and on the terms to be set out in the Final Offer Documents

    “Final Offer Document”

    the revised offer document to be issued in connection with the Final Offer and containing the revised terms of the Final Offer and which will be sent to Cadbury Shareholders other than Cadbury US Shareholders, Cadbury Canadian Shareholders and Cadbury ADS Holders

    “Final Offer Documents”

    the Final Offer Document and the Final US Offer Document

    “Final US Offer Document”

    the prospectus/offer to exchange to be included in the Registration Statement after the date of this announcement which will be sent to Cadbury US Shareholders, Cadbury Canadian Shareholders and Cadbury ADS Holders, as such may be amended from time to time

    “Form of Acceptance”

    a form of acceptance, authority and election for use by Cadbury Shareholders in connection with acceptance of the Final Offer, or historically, the Original Offer

    “IFRS”

    international financial reporting standards and international accounting standards and interpretations thereof, approved or published by the International Accounting Standards Board and adopted by the European Union

    “Initial Offer Period”

    the period during which the Offer remains conditional, which commenced on 4 December 2009 and expires on the earliest of (i) the Offer lapsing (ii) the Offer becoming or being declared wholly unconditional in accordance with its terms and (iii) 1.00 p.m. (London time) / 8.00 am (New York City time) on 2 February 2010 (or such later date as agreed with the Panel)

    “Kraft Foods”

    Kraft Foods Inc.

    “Kraft Foods Board”

    the board of directors of Kraft Foods

    “Kraft Foods CDIs”

    dematerialised CREST depositary interests representing New Kraft Foods Shares

    “Kraft Foods Directors”

    the directors of Kraft Foods

    “Kraft Foods Group”

    Kraft Foods and its subsidiary undertakings and, where the context permits, each of them

    “Kraft Foods Shareholders”

    holders of Kraft Foods Shares

    “Kraft Foods Shares”

    shares of class A common stock of no par value in the capital of Kraft Foods

    “London Stock Exchange”

    London Stock Exchange plc or its successor

    “Mix and Match Facility”

    the mix and match facility under which Cadbury Securityholders are able to elect, subject to availability and off-setting elections, to vary the proportion of New Kraft Foods Shares and cash consideration they will receive pursuant to the Final Offer

    “Morgan Stanley”

    Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited

    “New Kraft Foods Shares”

    the new Kraft Foods Shares proposed to be issued in connection with the Final Offer

    “Offer”

    the offer made by Kraft Foods to acquire all the Cadbury Shares (including those represented by Cadbury ADSs) subject to the conditions set out in the Original Offer Documents, and on the terms set out in the Original Offer Documents, the Final Offer Documents and the Acceptance Forms (and, where the context so requires, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such offer, including any election or alternative available in connection with it) and, unless the context otherwise requires, such term includes the Final Offer

    “Original Acceptance Forms”

    the Original Form of Acceptance and the Original ADS Letter of Transmittal or any other form issued by or on behalf of Kraft Foods prior to the date of this announcement in connection with the acceptance of the Original Offer and “Original Acceptance Form” means any of them

    “Original ADS Letter of Transmittal”

    the ADS Letter of Transmittal issued prior to the date of this announcement for use by Cadbury ADS Holders in connection with the acceptance of the Original Offer in respect of Cadbury Shares represented by Cadbury ADSs

    “Original Form of Acceptance”

    a form of acceptance, authority and election issued prior to the date of this announcement for use by Cadbury Shareholders in connection with the acceptance of the Original Offer

    “Original Offer”

    the Offer, as made by Kraft Foods on 4 December 2009 on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Original Offer Documents and the Original Acceptance Forms

    “Original Offer Document”

    the offer document dated 4 December 2009 in connection with the Original Offer, pursuant to which Kraft Foods made the Original Offer to Cadbury Shareholders other than Cadbury US Shareholders, Cadbury Canadian Shareholders and Cadbury ADS Holders

    “Original Offer Documents”

    the Original Offer Document and the Original US Offer Document

    “Original US Offer Document”

    the prospectus/offer to exchange, as amended prior to the date of this announcement, included in the Registration Statement and pursuant to which Kraft Foods made the Original Offer to Cadbury US Shareholders, Cadbury Canadian Shareholders and Cadbury ADS Holders

    “Panel”

    the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

    “pounds sterling”, “sterling” or “GBP”

    UK pounds sterling, as the lawful currency of the UK (and any references to “pence” shall be construed accordingly)

    “Profit Estimate”

    the statements regarding diluted earnings per share for the year ended 31 December 2009 and contained in this announcement

    “Prospectus”

    the prospectus relating to Kraft Foods dated 4 December 2009 in respect of New Kraft Foods Shares issued in connection with the Offer

    “Receiving Agent”

    Computershare Investor Services PLC of 2nd Floor, Vintners’ Place, 68 Upper Thames Street, London EC4V 3BJ (tel: from inside the UK, 0870 889 3144 and from outside the UK, +44 870 889 3144)

    “Registration Statement”

    the Registration Statement on Form S-4 relating to New Kraft Foods Shares offered as consideration pursuant to the Offer, filed by Kraft Foods with the SEC under the US Securities Act on 4 December 2009, as such may be amended from time to time

    “Regulations”

    the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 of the UK

    “Restricted Jurisdiction”

    any jurisdiction where the extension or acceptance of the Offer or where sending or making available information concerning the Offer to Cadbury Securityholders in such jurisdiction would violate the laws of that jurisdiction or would require registration of the New Kraft Foods Shares (except the US)

    “SEC”

    the US Securities and Exchange Commission

    “Subsequent Offer Period”

    the period commencing immediately after the end of the Initial Offer Period during which the Offer will remain open for acceptance

    “Special Dividend”

    the dividend of 10 pence per Cadbury Share

    “subsidiary undertaking” and “undertaking”

    shall be construed in accordance with the 2006 Act

    “Takeover Code”

    The UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

    “UBS” or “UBS Investment Bank”

    UBS Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 2035362

    “UK” or “United Kingdom”

    the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

    “US” or “United States”

    the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia

    “US GAAP”

    generally accepted accounting principles in the US

    “US Information Agent”

    Georgeson, Inc. of 199 Water Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10038-3560 (tel: from outside the US, +1 212 806 6859 and from inside the US, 800 868 1391)

    “US Securities Act”

    the US Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder

    “US Securities Exchange Act”

    the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder

    “USD”, “dollars”, “US dollars” or “$”

    US dollars, as the lawful currency of the United States (and any references to cents shall be construed accordingly)

    All times referred to are London time unless otherwise stated.

    All references to legislation in this announcement are to the legislation of England and Wales unless the contrary is indicated. Any reference to any provision of any legislation shall include any amendment, modification, re-enactment or extension thereof.

    Words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine or neutral gender.

    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090420/KRAFTLOGO)

    SOURCE Kraft Foods

    RELATED LINKS
    http://www.kraft.com

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  • BUSINESSWEEK: Wells Fargo May Post Profit as Economic Growth Curtails Losses

    January 19, 2010, 06:31 AM EST

    By Dakin Campbell

    Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) — Wells Fargo & Co., one of the two biggest U.S. home lenders in 2009, may report its fourth straight quarter of improved results as the economy expanded and pressure to build reserves abated.

    The bank probably swung to a fourth-quarter profit of $1.62 billion, or 9 cents a share, from a loss of $2.55 billion, or 79 cents, a year earlier, according to the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Earnings per share may have been curtailed by the San Francisco-based bank’s $12.25 billion sale of stock to repay the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Wells Fargo’s results are due tomorrow.

    Banks benefited from a resumption of U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter, which Wells Fargo estimated at 5.3 percent annualized. Chief Executive Officer John Stumpf has said his firm will save $5 billion on expenses after absorbing Wachovia Corp., acquired in 2008, and losses tied to adjustable- rate mortgages may be less than budgeted.

    “I would expect that they would have generated another healthy set of results if it weren’t for that TARP repayment,” said Richard Staite, a London-based analyst at Atlantic Equities LLP, who has an “overweight” rating on the shares. “As they integrate Wachovia, we will see stronger revenues come through that business.”

    The bank dropped 91 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $28.08 last week in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The lender, whose biggest investor is Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., declined 2.5 percent last year.

    TARP Repayment

    Wells Fargo is the last of the four biggest U.S. banks to report results. JPMorgan Chase & Co., the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, said fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled to $3.28 billion, or 74 cents a share, on higher revenue from investment-banking fees. New York-based Citigroup Inc. reports today, while Bank of America Corp. is scheduled to report tomorrow, about an hour before Wells Fargo.

    Wells Fargo caught up last month with Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America and JPMorgan, based in New York, by repaying its $25 billion in government bailout funds. The repayment reduced income for common shareholders by $2 billion during the quarter, according to the company, while saving $1.25 billion a year in TARP dividend payments.

    “The $2 billion will bring down overall earnings but I think people will look through that as a non-core number,” said Jennifer Thompson, whose recommendations at New York-based Portales Partners LLC returned 27 percent in the past year, the best showing among analysts who cover Wells Fargo. “There is a good chance that the reserve-building will come down.” She has a hold rating on the shares.

    Building Reserves

    The bank added $1 billion to reserves in the third quarter, bringing the total allowance for loan losses to $24 billion, or 3 percent of total loans. Consumer loan losses will peak in the first half of this year, while commercial loan losses will top out in the second half, the company predicted in October.

    “Wells Fargo remains among the healthiest of the large banks because of its strong core earnings power,” Oppenheimer & Co. analysts led by Chris Kotowski wrote in a Dec. 18 report. Still, earnings won’t be as high as the second and third quarters, “mainly because of a projected decrease of $1.6 billion in mortgage banking revenues from what we viewed as unsustainably high levels,” they wrote.

    Wells Fargo has been dueling Bank of America for the No. 1 ranking among U.S. home lenders, with the lead changing hands at least twice in 2009. Mortgage banking revenue at Wells Fargo climbed to $3.1 billion in the third quarter and probably fell to $1.5 billion in the fourth, Oppenheimer analysts said. Credit Suisse Group AG analysts led by Moshe Orenbuch expect mortgage revenue of $2.2 billion, according to a Jan. 7 report.

    Home Lending

    Mortgage applications in the U.S. fell 29 percent in the fourth quarter over the preceding three months, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, as rising interest rates discouraged homeowners from refinancing.

    Wachovia specialized in option-ARM mortgages, which allow homeowners to defer some payments on their adjustable-rate home loans and add them to the principal. Home prices in some of the largest urban areas in California have dropped about 38 percent from their peak in 2005 and 2006, according to S&P/Case-Shiller home price indexes, and that left borrowers owing more than their homes are worth.

    “They have been optimistic that the option-ARM mortgages from Wachovia have been slightly better than original expectations,” Staite said. “If that is the case, they can release some of those reserves through the net interest income line.”

    Exiting TARP allowed Wells Fargo to escape government oversight on executive pay. At the end of December, the lender awarded “retention performance shares” to the top four executives, with Stumpf getting stock valued at $10 million. The bonus pushed Stumpf’s 2009 compensation to $18.4 million.

    –Editors: Rick Green, Dan Kraut

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  • NEW YORK TIMES: Kraft and Cadbury Agree on Friendly Merger

    Published: January 19, 2010

    NEW YORK — After months of fiercely resisting any deal, Cadbury agreed Tuesday to an improved takeover offer from Kraft, worth about $19 billion, to create the world’s largest confectioner.

    Together Kraft, the maker of Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers, and Cadbury, the producer of Trident gum and Dairy Milk chocolates, would have more than $50 billion in annual revenue and a big presence in markets from the United States to India.

    The deal continues a trend seen over the past decade, in which food companies have sought to gain scale by combining with one another. Most recently, Mars bought the William Wrigley Jr. Co. in 2008 for $23 billion.

    “For Cadbury shareholders, it’s the best possible deal, given they were dealt a bum hand, because there were no counterbidders,” Jon Cox, food and beverage analyst at Kepler Capital Management in Zurich, said Tuesday. “The clear winner is Kraft.”

    Kraft’s original, unsolicited offer, made in September, was worth about $16.7 billion. Cadbury consistently derided it as too low.

    The new offer is about a 5 percent premium over Cadbury’s closing share price of 807.5 pence on Monday.

    Under the terms, Kraft will pay 500 pence in cash and offer 0.1874 new Kraft shares for each share of Cadbury. That amounts to a payment of 840 pence, or $13.80, per Cadbury share. Additionally, Cadbury will pay out a special dividend of 10 pence a share.

    Roger Carr, chairman of Cadbury, who had used harsh language in fighting off the original bid, said in a joint statement that the new offer “represents good value for Cadbury shareholders.”

    Irene Rosenfeld, chairwoman and chief executive of Kraft, said that for her company, the deal “transforms the portfolio, accelerates long-term growth and delivers highly attractive returns.”

    In the joint statement, the companies cited their “highly complementary geographic footprint.” On the one hand, Cadbury will benefit from the supply chain of a larger company, Mr. Cox said, and on the other, Kraft will be able to push its products through Cadbury’s distribution network in the developing world.

    Tuesday was the last day Kraft could raise its offer under British takeover rules. Cadbury shareholders now have until 1 p.m. London time Feb. 2 to decide whether to accept it. While the terms of the offer are “final,” Kraft reserved the right to raise its bid if a rival offer were made.

    The deal would bring to a close an often acrimonious battle between the two companies. Cadbury management called the original offer “derisory” and dismissed the prospect of being absorbed into what it called a slow-growing food conglomerate.

    The prospect of a takeover of the 186-year-old British institution, especially by an American multinational like Kraft, sent shudders throughout Britain and prompted a wave of public protests. The Mail on Sunday, one of the biggest-selling British newspapers, ran a “Keep Cadbury British” campaign.

    Politicians and unions have pointed to both a loss of jobs — the Unite labor union has estimated that as many as 30,000 jobs could be lost — and of national pride. Peter Mandelson, the British business secretary, warned Cadbury shareholders last month against trying to make a “fast buck.”

    “It’s sad to see another British company bought up by a multinational,” Mr. Cox said, “but that’s finance”

    Cadbury had argued repeatedly that it would prefer to remain independent, pointing to faster-than-expected success in its turnaround program. But its executives have acknowledged that Kraft’s bid put the company in play and that they would consider any offer made at the right price.

    Representatives for Cadbury have held talks with Hershey, the American company whom Cadbury viewed as a preferable merger partner, according to people briefed on the matter.

    For Hershey, buying Cadbury would prevent it from being relegated to a mostly U.S. company. Hershey moved closer to making a bid in recent days, lining up more than $10 billion in financing, these people said.

    Hershey had been waiting for Kraft to unveil its final offer Tuesday before it made its final decision on a bid but analysts have said that Hershey would most likely be unable to top the much larger Kraft in a bidding war. Other potential suitors, including Nestlé of Switzerland and Ferrero of Italy, dropped out.

    “What triggered Kraft’s move were the reports about Hershey,” Mr. Cox said. “It’s pretty much all done and dusted. I don’t think an interloper will break up this deal.”

    The offer announced Tuesday does not require the approval of Kraft shareholders, Kraft said Tuesday.

    Warren E. Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway is Kraft’s largest shareholder, has warned Kraft to avoid overdiluting its shareholders by issuing too many new shares.

    William A. Ackman, who runs the hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management and who has been amassing a big position in Kraft, has echoed Mr. Buffett’s concerns.

    Chris V. Nicholson reported from Paris. Andrew Ross Sorkin contributed reporting from New York.

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