Further to its announcement of 28 August, 2007, Cadbury Schweppes announces that it has completed the acquisition of Intergum, the leading Turkish gum business.
1. About Cadbury Schweppes
Cadbury Schweppes is the world's largest confectionery company and has strong regional beverages businesses in North America and Australia. With origins stretching back over 200 years, today Cadbury Schweppes' products - which include brands such as Cadbury, Schweppes, Halls, Trident, Dr Pepper, Snapple, Trebor, Dentyne, Bubblicious and Bassett - are enjoyed in almost every country around the world. The Group employs over 70,000 people.
2. About Cadbury
On 19 June, 2007, we announced a new strategy for our ongoing confectionery business post the separation of Americas Beverages. Our goal is to leverage our scale and advantaged positions to maximise growth and returns by:
• Driving growth through a concentration on "fewer, faster, bigger, better" participation and innovation, supported by our global category structure introduced last year;
• Driving cost and efficiency gains to increase margins; and
• Continuing to invest in capabilities to support our growth and efficiency agendas.
Our Financial Scorecard
Our ambition to maintain revenue growth while improving margins and returns is reflected in our new financial scorecard for the 2008 to 2011 period:
• Annual organic revenue growth of 4-6%
• Total confectionery share gain
• Mid teens trading margin by 2011
• Strong dividend growth
• Efficient balance sheet
• Growth in return on invested capital
Commercial Strategy: Focus on Top Markets, Brands and Customers
To help drive further revenue growth, under a new category management structure, we are focusing our resources on a fewer number of markets, brands and customers:
- Our 12 focus markets include the UK, US, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, India, Russia and Turkey. Together, these markets represent around 70% of our total revenues and are forecast to account for over 60% of expected category growth over the next five years.
- Our 13 focus brands, include our biggest brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Trident, Halls, Dentyne and Flake and our newer fast growing brands, Green & Black's and The Natural Confectionery Company. Together, our 13 focus brands account for over 50% of our confectionery revenues and have above average revenue growth and operating returns.
- Our 10 focus customers comprise 7 top retailers (including WalMart, Tesco, Carrefour and Lidl) and 3 trade channels (impulse in developed markets; traditional trade in emerging markets; and international travel retail). Together, these customers account for over 50% of our revenues.
Forward Looking Statements
This material may be deemed to include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and you should not rely unduly on them. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In evaluating forward-looking statements, which are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology, you should consider various factors including the risks outlined in our Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Although we believe the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. This material should be viewed in conjunction with our periodic interim and annual reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from Cadbury Schweppes plc, 25 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6HB, UK.