The combined company will be called Advance Pierre Foods and creates a leading supplier of value-added protein and handheld convenience food products to the foodservice, school, retail, club, vending and convenience store channels.
The transaction is expected to close within the next two months and is subject to customary closing conditions. Funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management are currently the majority shareholder of Pierre Foods, and upon closing will maintain a majority share of the combined company. The current shareholders of Advance Food Company, the Allen and McLaughlin Families, will own a minority share of the combined company.
Bill Toler, current CEO of Pierre Foods, will become the CEO of the newly combined company and Greg Allen, current CEO of Advance Food Company will join the board of directors of the combined company.
“Pierre is extremely pleased to merge with these two outstanding companies we have known and admired over the years,” said Toler. “The new and expanded product offerings and distribution network will give our combined customers tremendous variety, quality and value. Our businesses are wonderfully complementary, and we share common corporate philosophies around the importance of taking care of both customers and employees. “
The management team for Advance Pierre Foods includes executives from all three companies. Integration planning for all company functions is under way.
“Pierre has had a long tradition of providing innovative and high-quality products which are a natural fit for our company,” said Mark Allen, current president of Advance Food Company. “The combination of resources from all three companies will provide more options and opportunities across all sales channels, resulting in a stronger company going forward into the future.”
In the newly combined company, Allen will run the division focused on foodservice and school channels.
“Putting our companies together truly combines the best of both worlds for all of our customers and creates a world-class organisation to serve their needs,” said Billy McPherson, vice president of sales for Advance Brands.
Credit Suisse, Barclays Capital, Morgan Stanley and BMO Capital Markets have entered into financing arrangements, subject to customary closing conditions, to provide debt financing for the transaction and Morgan Stanley, Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse acted as Oaktree and Pierre’s financial advisers.
Source: Pierre Foods
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