M&A

9 November, 2009

FACTBOX-Facts about Cadbury

Nov 9 (Reuters) - British confectionery company Cadbury (CBRY.L) was expected to reject a takeover bid formalized by Kraft Foods Inc (KFT.N) on Monday, triggering a bid battle that could last up to three months. [ID:nL9380032]

Following are key facts about Cadbury:

* Cadbury is the world's second-largest confectionery company after Mars-Wrigley, making brands such as Dairy Milk chocolate, Trident gum and Halls cough drops.

* Cadbury has the No. 1 or No. 2 positions in more than 20 of the world's 50 biggest confectionery markets.

* Cadbury operates in more than 60 countries and employs more than 46,000 people.

* Full-year revenue in 2008 came to 5.4 billion pounds with underlying operating profit of 638 million pounds.

HISTORY

* Started life in 1824 with John Cadbury opening a shop in Birmingham selling tea and cocoa.

* Merged with Schweppes in 1969 to create Cadbury Schweppes.

* Became the world's biggest confectionery group in 2003 after buying the U.S. Adams chewing gum business for $4.2 billion.

* Sold continental European business to Lion and Blackstone for 1.85 billion euros in February 2006.

* Demerged Cadbury Schweppes Plc in May 2008 following shareholder pressure, creating the London-listed confectionery group Cadbury Plc and U.S. soft drinks group Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS.N).

* In March 2009, sold Australian beverage business Schweppes Australia to Asahi Breweries (2502.T) for A$1.185 billion ($769.5 million), completing its exit from soft drinks. (Editing by Michele Gershberg and Lisa Von Ahn)

Source: http://www.reuters.com