KELLOGG TO ACQUIRE KEEBLER
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellogg Company (NYSE: K)
today announced it has reached agreement to acquire Keebler Foods Company in a
transaction entered into with Keebler and with Flowers Industries, Inc., the
majority shareholder of Keebler. Kellogg said it would pay $42 for each of
Keebler's shares and assume Keebler's debt under the deal, which is expected to
close during the first quarter of 2001.
The Keebler Acquisition
The Kellogg-Keebler combination will create a diversified food company with
$10 billion in annual sales and a unique arsenal of popular brands and
spokescharacters. This portfolio of Kellogg's cereals and convenience foods and
Keebler's cookies and crackers will team the popular Keebler Elves and their
Hollow Tree with world-famous Kellogg icons such as Tony the Tiger and Snap!
Crackle! Pop!.
Revenue synergies should arise from enhanced distribution, marketing, and
product development. Considerable cost synergies also are expected.
Kellogg Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Carlos M. Gutierrez and
Keebler CEO Sam K. Reed said they expect that benefits from the merger will
include:
* Diversification of Kellogg's portfolio into faster-growing categories.
* Substantial sales growth potential for Kellogg's convenience foods
through Keebler's direct store delivery (DSD) system.
* New-product, cross branding, and license sharing opportunities.
* Greater scale in all U.S. product distribution channels, including
retailing, club and mass merchandising, foodservice, and vending.
* Cost synergies from combining two grain-based, brand-based packaged food
companies.
* Greatly expanded opportunities to take advantage of Kellogg's world-
class research and development resources.
"We welcome Keebler to the Kellogg family," Gutierrez said. "Keebler is an
extremely well-run company, with strong brands and a powerful DSD system. We can
learn a lot from Keebler, and we believe we can strengthen both companies by
bringing them together. The result should be better growth for both."
Reed said, "The fit between these two companies is as natural as you can
get. We have complementary strengths in Kellogg's traditional marketing and
Keebler's in-store distribution and merchandising. Just think what our elves can
do by bringing Kellogg's brands into our DSD system. We couldn't be more excited
about the prospects for this uncommonly good union."
Gutierrez further stated, "I am pleased that Sam K. Reed, David Vermylen,
currently president of Keebler brands, and other key members of the Keebler
management team have agreed to become part of Kellogg Company going forward."
The acquisition requires customary regulatory approvals. Kellogg said it
plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of short-term and long-
term debt. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Kellogg's cash EPS in
year one. Salomon Smith Barney served as financial advisor to Kellogg in the
transaction. Additional advice was provided by Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Next Phase in Kellogg Growth Strategy
The acquisition of Keebler is a key part of the company's recently
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announced growth strategy. Gutierrez said that while Kellogg Company has
significantly improved its ability to compete over the past two years, it is now
time to seek growth more aggressively.
"We are entering the next phase in the renewal of Kellogg Company," he
said. "Combining with Keebler is a significant component of this advancement,
but we also need to simplify our current Kellogg business, prioritize its
resources, and refuel it with a return to previous levels of marketing
investment."
Gutierrez said Kellogg's need to prioritize will result in focusing more
resources on the United States and its other core markets -- the United
Kingdom/Republic of Ireland, Mexico, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. "In the
United States, our largest market, we will invest strongly in building our
cereal brands, continue to expand our convenience foods business, and enhance
our growth through acquisitions," he said. "We will also set more realistic
short-term targets and improve the profitability of non-core markets."
Company Information
With annual sales of nearly $7 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's
leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods,
including toaster pastries, cereal bars, frozen waffles, wholesome snacks, and
meat alternatives. The Company's brands include Kellogg's, Special K, Rice
Krispies, Eggo, Pop-Tarts, Nutri-Grain, Morningstar Farms, and Kashi. Kellogg
icons such as Tony the Tiger and Snap! Crackle! Pop! are among the most
recognized characters in advertising. Kellogg's products are manufactured in 20
countries and marketed in more than 160 countries around the world. For more
information, visit Kellogg's web site at http://www.kelloggs.com .
Keebler Foods Company and its subsidiaries constitute the second largest
cookie and cracker maker in the United States with annual sales of $2.7 billion.
Keebler markets its products under well-recognized brands such as Keebler,
Cheez-It, Carr's, Ready Crust, Famous Amos, Murray, Austin, and Plantation.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
This news release contains forward-looking statements related to
acquisitions and business growth. These statements are based on management's
current views and assumptions regarding future business performance. Actual
performance may vary due to differences in acquisition outcomes; competitive
conditions; levels of marketing spending; economic factors such as energy
prices, interest rates, and foreign currency translations; and other factors.
SOURCE Kellogg Company
Web Site: http://www.kelloggs.com
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