SCHIPHOL AIRPORT, Netherlands, May 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Italian antitrust authority has informed Royal Numico N.V. that it has extended the time period in which it will assess the potential implications on the Italian Baby Food market of Numico's intended take-over of Mellin, an Italian Baby Food company. The extension will be for a 45-day period.
Numico will provide full cooperation and remains confident that the intended acquisition of Mellin will be approved by the Italian antitrust authority in June.
Royal Numico is a high-growth, high-margin specialised nutrition company with leading positions in Baby Food and Clinical Nutrition and brings products to the market under the brand names Nutricia, Milupa and Cow & Gate, among others. The company serves customers in over 100 countries and employs approximately 11,000 people (see also: www.numico.com).