IMAP's Food and Beverage Report Forecasts Industry Growth Through Emerging Economies

SARASOTA, FL--(Marketwire - February 11, 2010) - IMAP, Inc., an exclusive global merger and acquisition (M&A) organization, announced the availability of its 2010 Food and Beverage Global Report. The report provides detail on M&A transaction activity by country and region during 2009, projections for 2010, and the factors and trends that are contributing to the industry's evolution and growth.

"Our industry report offers perspective and insight that only IMAP can provide through advising clients on M&A in food and beverage for more than 35 years," said IMAP President Mark Esbeck. "We encourage industry professionals who are thinking about F&B opportunities to review our perspective on the factors and trends that are impacting financial transactions, both now and in the future."

Commenting on some of the key findings of the report, Cathy Jaros, an IMAP food and beverage advisor from Chicago, said, "Historically, developed countries such as the United States have been the largest producers of manufactured food products. However IMAP advisers have seen the longer-term trend, with China, Russia and India increasing their production capacities. Additionally, diets in developing countries are shifting from staple foods rich in carbohydrates to more expensive foods such as meat and dairy products. We are seeing rising health consciousness and the increased need for convenience, especially at home, driving growth in the developed countries."

IMAP advisers expect that rising populations, favorable demographics and increasing per capita income will support growth in developing countries. IMAP advisers also predict that recent droughts in some countries and rising fossil fuel prices are likely to cause food scarcity, which may force governments to intervene and acquire more farmland and subsidize agriculture.

In 2009, IMAP completed 14 M&A transactions in the consumer staples sector, including the following notable food and beverage transactions:

--  IMAP advised Brazilian beverage manufacturer and bottler Companhia
    Brasileira de Bebida in the acquisition of beverage manufacturer and
    bottler Maguary, a Kraft Foods subsidiary.
--  IMAP advised the French milk-products producer Alsace Lait in the
    acquisition of milk products producer Savoie Yaourt, also based in
    France.
--  IMAP advised Bimbo, a Brazil-based bakery and food manufacturer and
    distributor in the acquisition of an undisclosed Chinese food bakery
    and commercial brand company.
--  IMAP advised U.S.-based food flavors and ingredients manufacturer
    Flavor Specialties in its sale to Israeli food flavors and ingredients
    manufacturer Frutarom.
--  IMAP advised engineering consultancy services Tano FoodCon Group of
    Denmark in its sale to the Danish engineering consultancy services
    company Alectia.

IMAP periodically conducts reports on all major industries, providing a global perspective on M&A activity for a given period. IMAP's reports are a result of internal information gathered for completed M&A projects from IMAP's more than 400 advisers in nearly 40 countries throughout the world, as well as external industry sources. To view IMAP's complete Global Food and Beverage report, visit www.imap.com.

About IMAP

IMAP is an exclusive global organization of leading merger and acquisition advisory firms. Formed in 1973, IMAP is composed of 55 offices in nearly 40 countries throughout North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia and Asia. In 2008, IMAP advisers completed 252 transactions, with an aggregate transaction value of more than $13 billion. IMAP advisers provide strategic merger, acquisition, divestiture and related corporate finance services. Sellers of mid-size companies and corporate acquirers alike rely upon IMAP for essential local market knowledge and industry expertise delivered with unparalleled global reach. Every business day, somewhere in the world, an IMAP adviser is completing an M&A transaction. More information is available via the Internet at www.imap.com.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Christina Bereta (312) 780-7223 cbereta@dresnerco.com David Gutierrez (312) 780-7204 dgutierrez@dresnerco.com