Newsletter

14 February 2002

Eden Springs acquires from the Carlsberg Group the HOD bottled water activities in Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania

Eden Springs, the European leader of the HOD (Home Office Delivery) bottled water market consolidates its leadership position with the acquisition of the Scandinavian and Baltic market leader Rent A Cooler (RAC), a subsidiary of the Carlsberg Group.

RAC, which is based in Helsingborg - Sweden, is the pioneer of the HOD market in Europe, having started the activity in 1988 as part of the Ramlosa Group - the leading mineral water brand in Scandinavia. RAC owns and operates 2 water sources, serves approximately 35'000 clients, and employs 157 people. The transaction amount is valued at EUR 28 Mio.

With this acquisition Eden Springs consolidates its leadership position having strong market presence in 12 European countries (Estonia, France, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine) and serving approximately 300'000 clients.

Eden Springs and Carlsberg are in negotiation concerning Eden's possible acquisition of Rent A Cooler Denmark.