Protient - An ABF Ingredients Company

23/06/2008 : Protient Improves Milk Protein Plant

Protient Inc. of St. Paul, MN has recently completed a capital investment project into their plant in Norfolk, Nebraska. This project included the installation of a milk separator allowing Protient to source fresh whole milk from one local dairy farmer who milks nearly 10,000 cows. This gives Protient the unique capability to have identity preserved milk protein concentrates and isolates and further improves the quality of it's milk protein ingredients range. This project was part of Protient's overall quality improvement initiatives.

As another part of Protient's initiatives, they have also rolled out their new corporate image. The vision is a new logo which reflects healthy, active lifestyles that are promoted through its products and depicts a happy active image at the beginning of the logo to symbolize this ......"our proteins, your future".

Protient Inc. is part of ABF Ingredients, which is a division of Associated British Foods focusing on high value ingredients for food and non-food applications. It comprises a range of ingredient companies including; AB Enzymes, ABITEC, Ohly, PGP International and Protient.

The group has established strong market positions in cereal specialties, emulsifiers, enzymes, esters, extruded ingredients, lactose, specialty lipids, specialty powders, specialty flours, yeast extracts, whey protein concentrates/isolates and milk protein concentrates/isolates with locations worldwide.

08/04/2008 : Appointment - Ewan Ha

We are pleased to announce the addition of Y. W. “Ewan” Ha, Ph. D. as Vice President of Technologies to our Protient staff, effective March 31, 2008. Ewan will have oversight of both the R&D and QA departments and will report directly to Todd Watson, CEO Protient.

Ewan was most recently the founder of Functional Ingredients Research, Inc. and has extensive dairy research experience. He has previously worked for Glanbia Foods Inc., FMC BioPolymer, Proliant Inc., Haitai Dairy Co. and Seo-Ju Dairy Co. He received his BS and MS in Dairy Technology from Seoul National University, an MS in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Michigan State University and his Ph. D. in Food Technology from Clemson University. Ewan will office in St. Paul initially; moving to the proposed new Protient Technology Center in Eagan, MN upon its completion later this summer.

07/03/2008 : Appointment - Neal Vandegrift

Neal joined Protient as of March 1^st in the role of Business Development Manager reporting to Todd Watson, CEO Protient. Protient place great efforts into the development of higher added value, Dairy based products and Neal's knowledge and experience fits to play a key role in these efforts.

Neal comes to us with more than 15 years experience in proteins and protein hydrolysates. During this time he has held positions with increasing technical and business responsibilities in his ten-year career with New Zealand Milk Products (now Fonterra). Neal later went on to become the Business Director for Pharma and Nutrition at Quest International (now Kerry Bio-Science) where he oversaw the development of the Biotechnology business.

Neal brings technical and formulation know-how along with market development and business management skills to this position. His understanding of protein specialties spans the globe having held positions in North America and Europe with major multi-national ingredients companies.

Neal holds a Bachelors degree in Food Science from Ohio State University and has extensive post graduate work in protein hydrolysis and process technologies. He currently resides in California.

26/02/2008 : Appointment - Barbara Towne Ducat

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Barbara Towne Ducat as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. Barbara will have supervisory responsibilities for Finance, Accounting, MIS and IT of Protient Inc.

Barbara was most recently Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Minnesota-based Tyco/Covalence Plastics. Prior to Tyco/Covalence Barbara held a variety of positions with Cargill beginning in audit and ending with senior financial roles in various Cargill businesses around the United States.

Barbara has a BBA degree in Accounting from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

20/09/2007 : Protient launch new website

Protient today unveiled their eagerly awaited new website. The website is part of the branding image revamp that we will see unfold over the coming months. Watch this space for further details!

The new look of the website provides more information about the products available from Protient and has a more contemporary feel than the former site which Protient believe is in line with their future strategy.

20/09/2007 : ABF Interim results for 24 weeks ended 3 March 2007

ABF Interim Results for the 24 weeks ended 3 March 2007

Highlights

Adjusted operating profit up 7% to £272m*
Group revenue up 12% to £3,220m
Adjusted profit before tax up 5% to £268m **
Adjusted earnings per share level at 23.3p **
Interim dividend per share up 4% to 6.5p
Net investment in capital and acquisitions over the last year of £720m
Net debt of £350m
Basic earnings per share down 9% to 19.2p and profit before tax down 15% to £198m, reflecting increases in the charges for the amortisation of intangibles and the net loss on the sale of businesses and fixed assets

George Weston, Chief Executive of Associated British Foods, said:

“This is a good set of results. The satisfactory growth in revenue and operating profit in the first half reflects the substantial investment made by the group in capital and acquisitions last year. The advances made by Primark and sugar are the beginning of the benefits we expect from this investment and represent a significant development for these businesses.”

* before amortisation of intangibles and profits less losses on the sale of property, plant & equipment
**before amortisation of intangibles, profits less losses on the sale of property, plant & equipment and losses on the sale of businesses

All figures stated after amortisation of intangibles, profits or losses on the sale of businesses and property, plant & equipment are shown on the face of the consolidated income statement.

Click here to view the full release

or refer to the main Associated British Foods plc website:

http://www.abf.co.uk