Nestle and Colgate-Palmolive Announce
June 17 2003 - 3:00AM
UK Regulatory
Nestle and Colgate-Palmolive Announce Portable Oral Care Agreement
VEVEY, Switzerland and NEW YORK, June 17, 2003 Nestle S.A. and Colgate-
Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) today announced an agreement to pursue on a
worldwide basis the development, marketing, distribution and sale of a portfolio
of portable oral care products. These products are sold alongside traditional
confectionery items, taste good, clean teeth and freshen breath. The initial
product of the collaboration will be Colgate Dental Gum in its current test
markets of the UK, Ireland and Canada. Expansion of this product and other new
products will depend on the success in these initial markets.
For both companies, whose know-how and competences are complementary in
this field, portable oral care products have the potential to offer
incremental sales as consumers look for effective and convenient oral care
products while on the go and outside of home.
This agreement, which is subject to customary conditions, including any
required regulatory approvals, is expected to become effective early in 2004.
About Nestle: Nestle is the world's largest food company. Founded in
Switzerland in 1866, it now sells its products in all countries of the world
and runs 500 factories in 86 countries. In 2002, the Group's sales amounted
to CHF 89.2 billion (USD 57.6 billion / Euro 60.8 billion). Nestle employs
254,000 people worldwide and is a world leader in soluble coffee (Nescafe),
infant nutrition (Nestle), chocolate and confectionery (Nestle, KitKat,
Crunch), dairy products (Nestle, Nido), prepared foods (Maggi, Buitoni,
Stouffer's), chocolate and milk beverages (Nesquik, Milo), bottled water
(Perrier, Vittel, Contrex, S. Pellegrino), as well as petcare (Purina).
About Colgate-Palmolive: Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer
products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Household
Surface Care, Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in
over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally
recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring,
Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Suavitel and Fab, as well as
Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet pet foods. For more
information about Colgate's global business, visit Colgate's website on the
internet at www.colgate.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual events
or results may differ materially from those statements. Investors should
consult Colgate's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for
information about factors that could cause such differences (including the
information set forth under the caption "Cautionary Statement on
Forward-Looking Statements" in Colgate's Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002). Copies of these filings may be obtained upon request from
Colgate's Investor Relations Department or Colgate's website on the internet
at www.colgate.com.
Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030616/NYM183LOGO-a
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SOURCE Nestle S.A.; Colgate-Palmolive Company
-0- 06/17/2003
/CONTACT: Nestle: Media - Francois-Xavier Perroud, +41-21-924-2596, or
Investors - Roddy Child-Villiers, +41-21-924-3622; or Colgate-Palmolive:
Media - Bob Murray, +1-212-310-2199, bob_murray@colpal.com, or
Investors - Bina Thompson, +1-212-310-3072/
/Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030616/NYM183LOGO-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030616/NYM183LOGO-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840/
/Web site: http://www.colgate.com
http://www.nestle.com /
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