Bell Food : veröffentlicht definitives Endergebnis zum öffentlichen Kaufangebot für alle sich im Publikum befindenden Inhaberaktien der Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft

This press release or the information contained therein is not being issued and may not be published or distributed in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan and does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in such countries.

Diese Medienmitteilung bzw. die in dieser Medienmitteilung enthaltenen Information sind nicht zur Weitergabe in bzw. Verteilung innerhalb der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, Kanada, Australien oder Japan bestimmt und stellen kein Angebot zum Kauf von Wertpapieren in diesen Ländern dar.

Nach Ablauf der Nachfrist des öffentlichen Kaufangebots für alle sich im Publikum befindenden Inhaberaktien der Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft («Hügli») am 17. Mai 2018 verfügt Bell Food Group AG («Anbieterin» oder «Bell Food Group») unter Vorbehalt des Vollzugs über insgesamt 98.09% aller per diesem Datum kotierten Inhaberaktien von Hügli («Hügli-Inhaberaktien»).

Am 26. Februar 2018 veröffentlichte die Bell Food Group den Angebotsprospekt des öffentlichen Kaufangebots für alle sich im Publikum befindenden Hügli-Inhaberaktien zum Angebotspreis von CHF 915.00 netto in bar pro Aktie, abzüglich des Bruttobetrags allfälliger, bis zum Vollzug eintretender Verwässerungseffekte.

Bis zum Ablauf der Nachfrist am 17. Mai 2018, 16.00 Uhr (MESZ), wurden der Bell Food Group im Rahmen des Kaufangebots 212'927 Hügli-Inhaberaktien, entsprechend 97.56% der Inhaberaktien, auf welche sich das Kaufangebot bezieht, angedient (Erfolgsquote). Des Weiteren erwarb die Bell Food Group seit dem 26. Februar 2018 bis zum Ablauf der Nachfrist börslich 20'572 Hügli-Inhaberaktien. Unter Annahme des Vollzugs des Kaufangebots und einschliesslich aller 410'000 Namen- und 61'738 Inhaberaktien, welche von der Bell Food Group und den mit ihr in gemeinsamer Absprache handelnden Personen per Ablauf der Nachfrist gehalten werden, beträgt die Beteiligung der Bell Food Group und der mit ihr in gemeinsamer Absprache handelnden Personen somit insgesamt 410'000 Namen- und 274'665 Inhaberaktien, entsprechend 99.23% der Stimmrechte und 98.90% des Aktienkapitals von Hügli (Beteiligungsquote).

Der Vollzug des Kaufangebots findet voraussichtlich am 25. Mai 2018 statt.

Wie im Angebotsprospekt näher ausgeführt, beabsichtigt die Anbieterin nach Vollzug des Angebots, die Hügli-Inhaberaktien von der SIX Swiss Exchange dekotieren zu lassen. Da die Anbieterin nach Vollzug des Kaufangebots über 98% der Stimmrechte von Hügli hält, beabsichtigt sie, beim zuständigen Gericht die Kraftloserklärung der verbleibenden Hügli-Inhaberaktione im Sinne von Art. 137 FinfraG zu beantragen (siehe Abschnitt E.3. «Absichten von Bell betreffend Hügli» und Abschnitt K.6. «Kraftloserklärung und Dekotierung» des Angebotsprospekts).

Das Angebot untersteht den Angebotsrestriktionen gemäss Angebotsprospekt vom 26. Februar 2018.

Weiterführende Informationen zum Kaufangebot finden Sie unter www.bellfoodgroup.com/publictenderoffer

Über Bell Food Group

Die Bell Food Group gehört zu den führenden Fleisch- und Convenience-Verarbeitern in Europa. Das Angebot umfasst Fleisch, Geflügel, Charcuterie, Seafood, Convenience-Produkte und Schnittsalate. Mit den Marken Bell, Hilcona und Eisberg deckt die Gruppe vielfältige Kundenbedürfnisse ab. Zu den Kunden zählen der Retail, der Food Service sowie die Lebensmittelindustrie. Über 10'000 Mitarbeitende erwirtschaften einen Jahresumsatz von CHF 3,6 Mrd. Die Bell Food Group ist an der Schweizer Börse kotiert.

This press release is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares. This press release is not a prospectus within the meaning of Article 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, nor is it a listing prospectus as defined in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange AG or a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction. The public tender offer (the 'Public Tender Offer') for all publicly held bearer shares in Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft is being made solely by means of, and on the basis of, an offer prospectus which has been published. An investment decision regarding the acceptance of the Public Tender Offer should only be made on the basis of the offer prospectus. The offer prospectus was published on 26 February 2018 and is available free of charge from UBS AG, Swiss Prospectus Switzerland, P.O. Box, CH-8098 Zurich (tel.: [phone] (voice recorder); fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]). A decision to invest in securities of Bell Food Group AG ('Bell Group') should be based exclusively on the issue and listing prospectus published by Bell Food Group AG for such purpose.

This press release is not for publication or distribution in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan and it does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in such countries or in any other jurisdiction. In particular, the document and the information contained herein should not be distributed or otherwise transmitted into the United States of America or to U.S. persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act')) or to publications with a general circulation in the United States. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or to purchase any securities in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or the laws of any state, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration under or an exemption from registration under Securities Act. There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States of America.

The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. No prospectus offering securities to the public will be published in the United Kingdom. This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the 'Order') or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as 'relevant persons'). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Any offer of securities to the public that may be deemed to be made pursuant to this communication in any member state of the European Economic Area (each an 'EEA Member State') that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC (together with the 2010 PD Amending Directive 2010/73/EU, including any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the 'Prospectus Directive') is only addressed to qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive.

This publication may contain specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like 'believe', 'assume', 'expect', 'forecast', 'project', 'may', 'could', 'might', 'will' or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of Bell Group and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Bell Group cautions readers that a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements made by Bell Group or on Bell Group's behalf. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to successfully consummate the acquisition of Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft and realize expected synergies, and (2) other risks and uncertainties inherent in the business of Bell Group and Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. Bell Group assumes no responsibility to up-date forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.