Empresas y finanzas

Sodexho Becomes the Leader in Brazil for Service Vouchers and Cards



    Regulatory News:

    Sodexho Alliance (PARIS:SW) (OTCBB:SDXAY) announced today that it
    has signed an agreement to acquire the Service Vouchers and Cards
    activities of the VR Group in Brazil. Consideration for the
    transaction, which is determined on a debt free basis, is 1 billion
    Brazilian reals, or approximately 380 million euros. The transaction
    remains subject to various conditions, including regulatory matters.

    Group VR is Brazil's third largest issuer of Service Vouchers and
    Cards. Created in 1977, VR has developed an expanded offer of services
    in the area of human resources and quality of life services. This
    acquisition enables Sodexho to reinforce its position in Food Pass and
    Restaurant Pass offerings as well as extend services such as transport
    and fleet maintenance. The combined business intends to develop card
    activities using Group VR's acceptance network.

    The complementarities of the business portfolios, particularly in
    cards, will provide Sodexho Service Vouchers and Cards in Brazil with
    new development opportunities in the dynamic Brazilian market. Brazil
    has significant market potential with strong future growth prospects.
    Over the last two years, Sodexho Service Vouchers and Cards in Brazil
    has seen average annual growth of its issue volume of around 10%.

    Upon completion of this acquisition, Sodexho Service Vouchers and
    Cards in Brazil will have an issue volume of 2.3 billion euros, a
    portfolio of 40,000 clients with a strong competitive position in the
    market for small and medium sized companies and 5 million
    beneficiaries.

    SODEXHO ALLIANCE, founded in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, is the leading
    global provider of Food and Facilities Management services, with more
    than 332,000 employees on 28,300 sites in 80 countries. For Fiscal
    2006, which closed August 31, 2006, SODEXHO ALLIANCE had sales of 12.8
    billion euro. Listed on Euronext Paris, the Group's current market
    capitalization is more than 7.3 billion euro.