Del Monte buy out

sharky

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...elmonte26.html

Del Monte agrees to $4 billion acquisition

Del Monte Foods on Thursday agreed to be bought for $4 billion in cash by a group of investors that includes its former owner in what would...

By MAE ANDERSON

The Associated Press

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NEW YORK — Del Monte Foods on Thursday agreed to be bought for $4 billion in cash by a group of investors that includes its former owner in what would be the biggest private-equity deal of the year.

An investor group led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. — which briefly owned Del Monte — Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Partners agreed to buy the food-maker for $19 per share. They will also assume $1.3 billion in debt.

The purchase price is a 6 percent premium to the stock's closing price on Wednesday, though the stock has soared recently on published reports about a possible buyout.

The stock is up 59 percent since the beginning of the year, including a 12 percent jump on Nov. 18 when rumors of the deal surfaced.

Del Monte, based in San Francisco, is the owner of several well-known pet-food brands, including Kibbles 'n Bits, Meow Mix and Milk-Bone. It also has food brands under the Del Monte, Contadina, College Inn and S&W names.

The private-equity firms in the deal have a long history with food makers.

KKR has bought food and beverage companies such as Beatrice Cos., RJR Nabisco and Borden Foods. It acquired Del Monte as part of its $25.1 billion leveraged buyout of Nabisco in 1989, and then sold Del Monte soon afterward. And Centerview's co-founder, Jim Kilts, is a former CEO of Kraft.

After a lull during the recession, more private equity deals are springing up. At $4 billion, the Del Monte deal is the largest private equity acquisition of the year, ahead of Extended Stay Inc., which agreed to be bought in May for $3.92 billion.

Consumer-goods companies have been popular targets lately, which could mean that private equity firms are feeling increasingly confident that consumers are likely to start spending more and keep it up.

Del Monte CEO Richard Wolford said the deal "delivers substantial shareholder value and is a clear endorsement of Del Monte's strategic success and effective execution."

Del Monte can solicit other offers through Jan. 8.
 

Willowy

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Originally Posted by AddieBee

I'm sure products are going to suffer as a result.
At least most of their pet foods couldn't get any worse, LOL. Nature's Recipe is the only one that could possibly suffer a loss in quality--the others are so bad any change would have to be an improvement! I wonder about the human foods, though.
 
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