Today, Nestlé and the Rouge family, the majority shareholder of Sources Minérales Henniez, signed an agreement regarding the acquisition of a 61.66 per cent share in Henniez by Nestlé. The Swiss food multinational will pay CHF155mn (€98.5mn), which equals to CHF3,000 (€1,812) per share. In addition, Nestlé will make a public offer for the remaining 38.34 per cent of the shares for CHF 5,303 (€3,205) per share, equivalent to the average weighted price of the last 60 trading days.

Henniez employs 270 people and had 2006 sales of CHF152mn. Its main brands are Henniez and Cristalp branded bottled water. Henniez's joint venture partnership with Eckes-Granini (Granini and Hohes C brands) will continue. With sales of CHF 77 million (€49mn) in 2006, Nestlé Waters Suisse markets the brands S. Pellegrino, Vittel, Contrex, Acqua Panna and Perrier. Upon completion of the deal, Nestlé Waters will have slightly less than 25 per cent of the Swiss bottled water market. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.