Significant events after the balance sheet date

Effective 1 January 2008, Unilever and PepsiCo have entered into an expanded international partnership for the marketing and distribution of ready-to-drink tea products under the Lipton brand. The new agreement adds 11 counties to the partnership's existing Lipton ready-to-drink tea business – eight in Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Portugal) as well as Korea, Taiwan and South Africa.

On 5 November 2007, Unilever announced the disposal of Boursin to Le Groupe Bel for €400 million. The sale was effective on 3 January 2008.

On 4 February 2008, we announced that we had reached an agreement to acquire the leading Russian ice cream business Inmarko, for an undisclosed amount. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2008.

On 11 February 2008, Unilever announced a share buy-back programme of at least €1.5 billion for 2008.

On 21 February 2008, Unilever launched a bond composed of two tranches; i) CHF 250 million fixed rate bond which will mature in four years, and ii) CHF 350 million fixed rate bond which will mature in seven years. Completion is expected in late March 2008.

On 28 February 2008 Unilever announced a number of changes affecting its organisation. As a further extension of the One Unilever programme, Foods and Home and Personal Care will be combined into a single category structure. To reflect our strategic focus on growth in developing markets, operations in Central and Eastern Europe will be managed as part of an enlarged region comprising Asia, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe, with Western Europe becoming a separate region.

A number of Board and senior executive changes were announced simultaneously. Kees van der Graaf will step down from the Boards of Unilever and from his role as President Europe at the AGMs on 14 and 15 May 2008. Ralph Kugler, President Home and Personal Care, will similarly step down at the AGMs. Harish Manwani, currently President Asia Africa, will lead the new expanded region. Doug Baillie, previously Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Unilever, will join the Unilever Executive as President Western Europe. The roles of President Home and Personal Care and President Foods will be merged under the leadership of Vindi Banga, currently President Foods.