Barentz and Ernst Sander AG form Joint Venture

Zug, June 11, 2007

ESAG
Baarerstrasse 14
Postfach 4759
CH-6304 Zug
Switzerland

Phone: +41 41 710 61 22
Fax: +41 41 710 61 20
info@ernst-sander.ch

Barentz Europe BV and Ernst Sander AG have decided join forces for the distribution of specialty ingredients and additives for the food, feed and pharmaceutical industry. The partners have agreed to form a new joint venture company: Barentz-Sander AG. Barentz-Sander AG will be located in Zug and service the Swiss food, feed and pharma customers of Sander AG and Barentz GmbH.

“Barentz is one of the leading specialty distribution companies in Europe, with a clear vision and a long term strategy” says Mr. Alex Koller, the new CEO of Barentz-Sander AG. “Both Barentz and Sander are privately owned companies with a long tradition of customer focus and added value service. The combination of Barentz with the local expertise of Sander will offer a great advantages to our Swiss customers”.

“We have been able to build substantial business out of our Oberhausen office in the Swiss market in the limited period that we are active in this market. We do feel however that local presence, will assure our customers even better service and a more extended product portfolio. By focusing with local people on our customers in the food, the feed and the pharmaceutical industry, we are very confident that we can grow the business at much more rapid pace for our partners.” says Dr. Torsten Pieschnick, managing director of Barentz GmbH and VP for the Pharma Division of Barentz.

“We are delighted that we have found a partner which cherishes the same values as Barentz and is firmly rooted in Switzerland for over 135 years. The joint-venture fits our strategy to be a strong local supplier in every European country. The conditions in the Swiss market lead us to this solution over the option of organic growth. Barentz normal growth path in the past ten years has been growth through own offices, Russia and Turkey being the latest additions to the Barentz Network. Also in the future we will look at all options to further our growth” concludes Hidde van der Wal, CEO of Barentz Europe BV.

Contact:

Switzerland - Alex Koller : +41 41 710 61 22
Elsewhere - Rinus Heemskerk: +31 23 567 34 56

About Barentz Europe

Barentz Europe is a privately owned company and one of the leading specialty raw material companies in Europe active with nearly 350 people in 28 countries. The company is active in distribution towards the food, the feed, the pharma & cosmetic and chemical industries. The turnover of The Barentz Group in 2006 was almost € 400 million.

About Sander AG:

Founded in 1871, Sander is a privately owned distribution company based in Zug, Switzerland. The company supplies specialty ingredients and additives to the Swiss industry and other European markets. Particularly water treatment, paper and card board industry, coatings and inks as well as the chemical industry are core business for Sander. Owned by the Koller family, Sander AG has earned a reputation as a solid distribution house in the Swiss market.