ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Toronto-based Del Monte Canada Inc., a leading provider and marketer of packaged fruits, fruit snacks and vegetables in Canada, from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners. The agreement includes the acquisition of all Del Monte branded packaged fruit, fruit snacks and vegetable products in Canada, as well as Aylmer tomato products. Del Monte fresh produce, juices, and Aylmer soups will remain under separate ownership.
The agreement also includes a manufacturing facility in Dresden, Ontario, and headquarters offices in Toronto, Ontario. Del Monte Canada has 190 employees and fiscal 2011 revenue of approximately $150 million. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions as well as applicable regulatory reviews. Financial terms were not disclosed.
ConAgra Foods' agreement to acquire Del Monte Canada is based on its strategies to grow core businesses, expand into strategic adjacencies and build its international presence. The company recently acquired National Pretzel Company, maker of a variety of private-label pretzel products and also announced last November that it increased its ownership share of Agro Tech Foods Ltd. in India.
"The acquisition of Del Monte Canada supports our strategic growth plan," said Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods. "It will grow our position in North American tomato products, expand our vegetable product line and add packaged fruit and fruit snacks to our portfolio."
ConAgra Foods Canada Inc. currently has over 300 employees at three locations, including its Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. Popular ConAgra Foods consumer brands include Healthy Choice, Orville Redenbacher's, Hunt's, Snack Pack, Chef Boyardee, PAM, POGO, VH, and many others.
"We are excited to add Del Monte Canada's operation to our business and build our presence in Canada," said Tom Gunter, president of ConAgra Foods Canada Inc. "Del Monte and Aylmer are leading brands with strong legacies, making this acquisition an excellent strategic fit."
About ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one
of North America's leading food companies, with brands in 97 percent of
America's households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg
Beaters, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville
Redenbacher's, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and
many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass
merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong
business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato
products as well as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a
variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial
customers. For more information, please visit us at http://www.conagrafoods.com.
About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts,
equity, debt, and other investments in companies that can benefit from
its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital
affiliates have invested in more than 285 companies worldwide with
combined sales in excess of $45 billion since Sun Capital's inception in
1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York,
as well as affiliates in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Shanghai
and Shenzhen. For more information, please visit www.SunCapPart.com
Note on Forward-looking Statements
This release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on
management's current views and assumptions of future events and
financial performance and are subject to uncertainty and changes in
circumstances. We undertake no responsibility for updating these
statements. Readers of this release should understand that these
statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Many factors
could affect our actual financial results and cause them to vary
materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking
statements, including those set forth in this release. These factors
include, among other things: availability and prices of raw materials,
including any negative effects caused by inflation; the effectiveness of
our product pricing, including any pricing actions and promotional
changes; future economic circumstances; industry conditions; our ability
to execute our operating and restructuring plans; the success of our
innovation, marketing, and cost- saving initiatives; the competitive
environment and related market conditions; operating efficiencies; the
ultimate impact of any product recalls; our success in efficiently and
effectively integrating acquisitions; access to capital; actions of
governments and regulatory factors affecting our businesses, including
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the amount and timing of
repurchases of our common stock, if any; and other risks described in
our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We
caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements included in this release, which speak only as of the date of
this release.
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Media:
Jeff Mochal, 630-857-1513
Director,
Communication & External Relations
Jeff.Mochal@ConAgraFoods.com
or
Investors:
Chris
Klinefelter, 402-240-4154
Vice President, Investor Relations
Chris.Klinefelter@ConAgraFoods.com