$53 Million Settlement Reached with Mitsui Defendants in Vitamins Antitrust Litigation

November 5, 2003

Class Plaintiffs reached a settlement with defendants Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., and the Mitsui companies' wholly owned U.S. subsidiary Bioproducts, Inc., in the Vitamins Antitrust Litigation and filed a motion for preliminary approval of this settlement on October 31, 2003. This settlement follows a trial of Class Plaintiffs' claims against the Mitsui Defendants where a jury in Washington unanimously found the Mitsui companies, together with other manufacturers, liable for participating in a ten-year global price-fixing and market allocation conspiracy in violation of the federal antitrust laws.

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Mitsui Defendants have made a cash payment totaling $53,000,000 for the benefit of the members of the Choline Chloride Class, a class of businesses that directly purchased Vitamin B4 (choline chloride) and were overcharged as a result of the conspiracy. Five other major settlements in this multidistrict litigation between certain defendants and Class Plaintiffs have been previously approved by Chief Judge Hogan (D.D.C.). CMHT is Co-Lead Counsel for the Class Plaintiffs.

• Settlements Totaling Over $105 Million with Niacin and Biotin Defendants in Vitamins Antitrust Litigation Finally Approved - February 18, 2004
• $53 Million Settlement Reached with Mitsui Defendants in Vitamins Litigation November 5, 2003
• Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC Obtains $150 Million Verdict in Choline Chloride Price-Fixing Class Action - July 10 , 2003
• $ 50 Million Settlement Reached with Merck Defendants in Vitamins Antitrust Litigation - August 15, 2002

• Notice of Vitamin Products Settlements
• Opinion re Final Approval of Biotin and Niocin Defendants Settlements - February 18, 2004
• Motion for Preliminary Approval of Settlement - Mitsui Defendants - October 31, 2003
• Notice of Choline Chloride Class Determination and Claim Form
• Notice of Vitamin Products Class Determination and Settlement
• Class Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Approval Of Settlement Between Class Plaintiffs and Merck Defandants - August 15, 2002
• Class Plaintiffs' Memorandum In Support Of Motion For Preliminary Approval Of Settlement Between Class Plaintiffs and Merck Defandants - August 15, 2002
• MEMORIALIZING OPINION Re: Final Approval of Settlement