Group Danone has agreed not to increase its stake in Yakult Honsha Co. for at least five years, the two companies said today (15 May).

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Danone holds just over 20% in the Japanese dairy group and in 2004 signed a deal not to up its shareholding in the company until at least 2009.


However, under a new agreement, Danone will now not be able to increase its stake until 2012.


Two Danone executives have been appointed to the Yakult board. Danone’s vice chairman and COO Jacques Vincent and Sven Thormahlen, the head of Danone’s R&D team, have joined the Yakult board. Danone now has four representatives on the Yakult board.


The companies said the new deal – and the appointments to the Yakult board – “reinforced their strategic and scientific cooperation”. The companies already run ventures in India and Vietnam and work together on R&D.

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