Chiquita Offers Notes

NEW YORK - Jun 15/05 - SNS -- Chiquita Brands International, Inc. plans to offer $225 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2015, subject to market and other customary conditions.

The company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with available cash and borrowings under a new senior secured credit facility, to fund its previously announced acquisition of the Fresh Express unit of Performance Food Group, which is expected to close in the second quarter 2005.

The notes will be offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.