STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Tetra Pak will today provide its documentation of payments to Parmalat to the Italian authorities, to support them in their further investigation of Parmalat. Tetra Pak will also inform the authorities that all discount payments have gone to companies as directed by Parmalat.
Parmalat, as all other large customers of Tetra Pak, has benefited from marketing support and discounts on the packaging material Parmalat has bought from us. The discounts to Parmalat are similar to those that benefit other large customers. Average Tetra Pak sales to Parmalat have been Euro 224.4 million per year between 1995 and 2003. On average, the discounts paid from central units have been approximately Euro 12.2 million per year during the same period, or an average about 5.4 % per year.
We have reviewed our discount payments to Parmalat since 1995 and we cannot identify any payments knowingly made directly to either the Tanzi family or any other individuals. On the contrary, the payments have always been made to the companies to which Parmalat has directed us.
"We regard this issue of high importance and we therefore offer the Italian authorities our continued support," said Jorgen Haglind, Senior Vice President, Communications, Tetra Pak.
For further information, please contact: Jorgen Haglind, telephone +46 708 36 46 10
A media telephone conference will be held at 11.30, January 13. Jorgen Haglind will then comment on the issue of Tetra Pak and Parmalat. Please dial +46 8 737 8981 and pin code 386025
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
The following files are available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/01/13/20040113BIT00310/wkr0001.doc
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/01/13/20040113BIT00310/wkr0002.pdf