Maple Leaf Completes Schneider Deal

TORONTO - Apr 6/04 - SNS -- Maple Leaf Foods, Inc. has completed its purchase of the Schneider Corporation from Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Schneider Foods is one of Canada’s largest producers of premium branded quality food products, specializing in packaged processed meats, poultry and grocery products, with 2003 sales of approximately $1.2 billion, EBIT of $54 million and EBITDA of $76 million.

After closing, Schneider Foods will become an Independent Operating Company of Maple Leaf Foods under the leadership of its existing management. A Merger Leadership Council, chaired by Douglas Dodds, President of Schneider Foods, has been established to guide the process of uniting the two companies.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is a major Canadian food processing company with approximately 23,000 employees and sales of $5.1 billion in 2003.

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