Stolt-Nielsen and Nutreco Holding Complete Merger of Marine Harvest

Stolt-Nielsen S.A. and Nutreco Holding N.V. today announced the completion of the merger of their worldwide fish farming, processing, and marketing and sales operations into a stand-alone new business entity, Marine Harvest. SNSA will hold a 25% share in the new company and Nutreco 75%. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the merger by both parties was announced on September 13, 2004. Marine Harvest has over 6,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of approximately EUR 850 million in salmon, cod, halibut, tilapia and other farmed fish. Marine Harvest will be the leader in all of the markets in which it operates and will be led by a management with extensive industry experience. The new management of Marine Harvest has now taken control of the combined operations. Marine Harvest's Executive Board consists of Mr. Hans den Bieman (Chief Executive Officer), Mr. Harry van Beek (Chief Financial Officer) and Mr. James Stove Lorentzen (Executive Director). The head office will be in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The Supervisory Board will be chaired by Mr. Svein Rennemo. Other members are Mr. Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen (CEO Stolt-Nielsen S.A.), Mr. Wout Dekker (CEO Nutreco Holding N.V.), and Mr. Cees van Rijn (CFO Nutreco). Through the Marine Harvest merger, SNSA has kept the future upside potential of an exciting industry by holding a significant stake in what both SNSA and Nutreco intend to become a public company. SNSA's turbot and sole operations in Europe and southern bluefin tuna operations in Australia are not included in the Marine Harvest merger. As part of the closing procedure, due diligence will be performed to determine the starting balance sheet under IFRS for the new Marine Harvest. As of its second quarter ended May 31, 2005, SNSA's shareholding in Marine Harvest and subordinated shareholder loans to Marine Harvest will be reported as an investment in a non-consolidated joint venture in the balance sheet of SNSA. SNSA's share of 25% in the results of Marine Harvest will be reported in 'equity in net income of non-consolidated joint ventures'. Marine Harvest will be well capitalized and have a strong balance sheet with initial funding consisting of equity and shareholder loans. It is the intention that in the near future Marine Harvest will be financed independently of its shareholders. Marine Harvest intends to pursue an Initial Public Offering (IPO) at the appropriate time.