As commentary to the article published in Äripäev on 20 October 2008 and entitled “Nordea Pank laenas Kruudale 700 miljonit” (Nordea Bank lends Kruuda 700 million"), AS Kalev notes that Äripäev is misleading readers by presenting misinformation. In the interests of persons with a material interest toward the economic activity of AS Kalev, we would like to correct the following errors made by Äripäev: The claim in the article that “Kalev Paide Tootmine used slightly more than 600 million of the loan received for the purchase of Põlva Piim” is untrue. AS Kalev Paide Tootmine used the loan received under a syndicated loan agreement signed with Nordea Bank Finland Plc Estonia branch and Bank DnB Nord A/S Estonia branch for acquiring a share in both OÜ Põlva Piim Tootmine and Tere AS. The loan was thus used only partially for acquiring a share in Põlva Piim Tootmine OÜ. Relevant information was released in AS Kalev's press release of 17.10.2008, “”Loan agreement concluded by AS Kalev Paide Tootmine. Collateral agreements concluded.” As Äripäev mentioned in the same paragraph that the final price of OÜ Põlva Piim Tootmine was 231.8 million kroons (see AS Kalev's press release of 17.10.2008, Acquisition of OÜ Põlva Piim Tootmine and Tere AS“) the claim that 600 million was paid for shares in OÜ Põlva Piim Tootmine is completely baffling. The speculation regarding the “disappearance” of 500 million kroons in AS Kalev profits is malicious. AS Kalev stated that there was a calculation error in the released figures and, indeed, thanked Äripäev for drawing attention to this fact. Furthermore, the actual error was about 50 million kroons, not 500 million, as yesterday's Äripäev erroneously claims The relevant explanation and corrected interim report were released in AS Kalev's press release of 02.10.2008, “”Correction notice: Unaudited interim report for the 12-month period” The article also fails to clarify which company is referred to under “OÜ Vara”. To the knowledge of AS Kalev, no company with such a business name is connected to the activity of OÜ Põlva Piim Tootmine. Äripäev's repeated claim that Alta Capital abandoned a purchase transaction for Tere AS and AS Kalev Chocolate Factory for the alleged reason that the seller embellished the balance sheet is dilettantish to an extreme, to the extent that both buyer and seller would be hard-pressed to comment on this. Allan Viirma Head of the legal service AS Kalev Tel 688 6616
Comments regarding data published in Äripäev daily on 20 October 2008
| Source: Luterma