Ferrero to acquire Kellogg brands

The Ferrero Group and its related companies, a global confectionary group has announced it will acquire the cookie, fruit and fruit-flavoured snack, ice cream cone and pie crust businesses from Kellogg Company for $1.3 billion (or EUR1.16 billion at current exchange rates). These businesses generated sales of approximately $900 million in 2018.

Ferrero will acquire the cookie brand Keebler®, top selling on-the-go Famous Amos® cookies, the premium family cookie brand Mother's®, and Murray® sugar free cookies, as well as Little Brownie Bakers®, supplier of cookies to the Girl Scouts. Ferrero will also acquire the Kellogg fruit snacks business, including Stretch Island® and Fruity Snacks along with Keebler's® ice cream cones and pie crust products.

Since 2017, Ferrero has acquired several U.S. brands and businesses, and, with this transaction, Ferrero will enter into new strategic product categories and will further strengthen its position in the North American market.

Part of the transaction are Kellogg’s six owned U.S. food manufacturing facilities located across the country in Allyn, Washington, Augusta, Georgia, Florence and Louisville Kentucky, and two plants in Chicago, Illinois; as well as a leased manufacturing facility in Baltimore, Maryland.

"Kellogg Company's cookie, fruit snack, ice cream cone and pie crust businesses are an excellent strategic fit for Ferrero as we continue to increase our overall footprint and product offerings in the North American market." said Giovanni Ferrero, Executive Chairman of the Ferrero Group. "With this transaction, I look forward to bringing many iconic Kellogg brands into the Ferrero portfolio, to welcoming our new colleagues to the extended Ferrero community, and to continuing Ferrero's strong track record of growing brands, as we have through our successful acquisitions of Fannie May, Ferrara Candy Company, and the former Nestle U.S. confectionary business. We have great respect for Kellogg, its legacy and values, and are proud that Kellogg has chosen Ferrero as a good home for these businesses."

Lapo Civiletti, CEO of the Ferrero Group, said, "We are acquiring a portfolio of well-established brands that consumers love, with very strong market positions across their respective categories, allowing us to significantly diversify our portfolio and capitalize on exciting new growth opportunities in the world's largest cookies market."

Todd Siwak, CEO of Ferrara Candy Company, commented, "The acquisition presents an exciting opportunity to advance our strategic growth objectives and we look forward to sharing our plans for the business with our customers, suppliers and other partners in the coming weeks and months, and welcoming our new colleagues from Kellogg."

The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second half of the year.

JP Morgan Securities plc and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as advisors to Ferrero. - FERRERO