This press release or the information contained therein is not being issued and may not be published or distributed in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan and does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in such countries.

Le présent communiqué de presse ou les informations qu'il contient ne sont pas émis et ne peuvent être publiés ou distribués aux États-Unis d'Amérique, au Canada, en Australie ou au Japon et ne constituent pas une offre de vente de titres dans ces pays.

Bell Food Group publie le résultat final définitif de l’offre publique d’achat pour toutes les actions au porteur en mains du public de Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft

24.05.2018, Annonce événementielle au sens de l'art. 53 RC, Suisse

Après expiration du délai supplémentaire de l’offre publique d’achat pour toutes les actions au porteur en mains du public de Hügli Holding Aktiengesellschaft («Hügli») le 17 mai 2018, Bell Food Group SA («offrante» ou «Bell Food Group») dispose au total de 98.09% de l’ensemble des actions au porteur de Hügli cotées à cette date («actions au porteur Hügli») sous réserve de l’exécution.

Le 26 février 2018, Bell Food Group a publié le prospectus de l’offre publique d’achat pour toutes les actions au porteur Hügli en mains du public au prix de l'offre de CHF 915.00 net en espèces par action, déduction faite du montant brut des éventuels effets de dilution susceptibles d’intervenir jusqu’au moment de l’exécution.

Jusqu’à l’expiration du délai supplémentaire de l’offre le 17 mai 2018, 16h00 (HAEC), Bell Food Group a apporté dans le cadre de l’offre publique d’achat 212'927 actions au porteur Hügli, soit 97.56% des actions au porteur sur lesquelles porte l’offre d’achat (taux de réussite). En outre, Bell Food Group a acquis en Bourse, depuis le 26 février 2018 jusqu’à l’expiration du délai supplémentaire de l’offre, 20'572 actions au porteur Hügli. Dans l’hypothèse de l’exécution de l’offre d’achat, y compris l’ensemble des 410'000 actions nominatives et 61'738 actions au porteur détenues à l'expiration du délai supplémentaire de l’offre par Bell Food Group et les personnes agissant en concertation avec elle, la participation de Bell Food Group et des personnes agissant en concertation avec elle se monterait au total à 410'000 actions nominatives et 274'665 actions au porteur, soit 99.23% des droits de vote et 98.90% du capital-actions de Hügli (taux de participation).

L’exécution de l’offre d’achat aura probablement lieu le 25 mai 2018.

Comme précisé dans le prospectus de l’offre, l’offrante envisage de décoter les actions au porteur de Hügli par SIX Swiss Exchange après exécution de l’offre. Puisque l’offrante détient plus de 98% des droits de vote après exécution de l’offre d'achat, l’offrante a l’intention de demander auprès du tribunal compétent l'annulation au sens de l'art. 137 LIMF des actions au porteur Hügli restantes (voir section E.3. «Intentions de Bell concernant Hügli» et section K.6. «Annulation et décotation» du prospectus de l’offre).

L’offre est soumise aux restrictions figurant dans le prospectus de l’offre du 26 février 2018.

Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur l’offre d’achat, veuillez consulter l’adresse www.bellfoodgroup.com/publictenderoffer.

A propos de Bell Food Group

Bell Food Group compte parmi les principaux transformateurs européens de viande et de produits Convenience. L’offre comprend de la viande, de la volaille, de la charcuterie, des produits des gammes Seafood et Convenience ainsi que des salades précoupées. Les marques Bell, Hilcona et Eisberg permettent au groupe de répondre à des attentes diversifiées. Les clients représentent notamment le commerce de détail, le Food Service ainsi que l’industrie alimentaire. Un effectif de plus de 10 000 personnes a réalisé un chiffre d’affaires de CHF 3,6 milliards. Bell Food Group est coté à la Bourse suisse.

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.: +41 44 239 47 03 (voice recorder); fax: +41 239 69 14; e-mail: swiss-prospectus@ubs.com). 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.