TreeHouse Foods announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the majority of the US branded pasta portfolio of Riviana Foods, a subsidiary of Ebro, for $242.5 million in cash. The acquisition includes well-known regional brands, including Prince (Northeast), Creamette (Midwest) and American Beauty (West) and generated revenue of approximately $200 million for the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2020.
 
The company expects the transaction will be accretive by $0.20 to $0.30 per share in the first full year after closing. Upon completion of the transaction, TreeHouse expects its leverage ratio to remain in the 3.0x to 3.5x range.
 
"The acquisition of Ebro's well-known regional pasta brands further strengthens our portfolio and expands our scale to better serve our national and regional customers," said Steve Oakland, CEO and president of TreeHouse Foods. "Our existing private label and regional brand pasta business will be a natural complement to the acquired brands and will enable us to further optimize our production network, improve capacity utilization and deliver greater profitability and free cash flow."
 
"The work we have done over the past several years to strengthen our operating platform and realign our businesses into two distinct segments has positioned us well to execute this transaction and integrate the pasta business," Oakland continued. "We are confident this accretive acquisition, along with the significant progress we have made in generating free cash flow this year, will enhance our ability to drive shareholder value."
 
The acquisition includes the following regional brands: Skinner, No Yolks, American Beauty, Creamette, San Giorgio, Prince and Light 'n Fluffy, Mrs. Weiss', Wacky Mac, P&R Procino-Rossi and New Mill and the St. Louis manufacturing facility, which employs approximately 90 people. The acquisition does not include the Ronzoni national brand, or its Winchester, Va. and Fresno, Calif. plants.
 
The transaction is subject to Hart-Scott Rodino review and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020.
 
Evercore is acting financial advisor to TreeHouse Foods on the transaction and Winston & Strawn LLP is serving as legal counsel to the company.
 
www.treehousefoods.com