Van Houtte begins a new chapter in its history: Green Mountain Coffee
Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) enters into agreement to become the company's
new owner

MONTREAL, Sept. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, Van Houtte is taking a new step in its history and development. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) announced today that it has executed a Share Purchase Agreement pursuant to which GMCR will acquire all the outstanding shares of LJVH Holdings, Inc. ("Van Houtte"), from an affiliate of Littlejohn & Co., LLC, a private equity firm headquartered in Greenwich, CT, for a cash purchase price of approximately CAD$915 million. As part of its normal investment cycle, Littlejohn & Co., LLC, majority shareholder of Van Houtte since 2007, has decided to sell its interest in the company.

In terms of expertise and geography, the two organizations complement one another. Both are master roasters who are joining forces to offer a high-quality product to consumers.

GMCR is acquiring a company well-established in its industry and offering opportunities for growth. As the owner of Keurig, GMCR has been partnering with Van Houtte since 2001, when Van Houtte first became a Keurig licensee.

"We share with our new owner the same culture of quality on which the Van Houtte reputation has been built. With this new partnership, the company's leaders will to continue to reinforce the presence of the Van Houtte brand in its target marketplaces," stated Gérard Geoffrion, President and Chief Executive Officer of Van Houtte.

"We have had a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Van Houtte since 2001, when it first became a Keurig licensee, and we're confident that the company and its well known Canadian brands including Van Houtte(R), Brûlerie St. Denis(R), Les Cafés Orient Express Coffee(R) and Brûlerie Mont Royal(R) are great additions to GMCR and our family of specialty coffee brands," said Lawrence J. Blanford, President and Chief Executive Officer of GMCR.

Subsequent to the closing of the transaction, GMCR anticipates conducting a strategic review of Van Houtte's U.S. Coffee Services business ("Filterfresh") in contemplation of a potential divestiture of Filterfresh given GMCR's current sales and marketing structure and its existing network of independent Keurig authorized distributors throughout the US.

The entire Van Houtte team will be mobilized to assure ongoing service integrity and business continuity.

Van Houtte

Founded in 1919, Van Houtte is one of North America's leading gourmet coffee roasters, marketers and distributors. The Company roasts and markets its gourmet coffees across Canada and the U.S. through distribution channels that include coffee services, retail stores, café-bistros and online shopping.

For further information: Sophie Merven, HKDP Communications and public affairs, T: 514-395-0375, ext. 239, C: 514-266-7963