The purchase price of CDN$134.4 million(1) (A$137.5 million), on a debt-free basis, includes CDN$104.1 million(1) which represents the value of inventory net of a minimal amount of assumed liabilities, subject to closing adjustments, and was financed through new bank term loans.
The EDC Business’ operations include cutting and wrapping, distribution, sales & marketing and intellectual property associated with the COON, Cracker Barrel(2), Mil Lel and Fred Walker brands. The EDC Business generates annual sales of approximately CDN$156 million(1) (A$160 million) and employs approximately 170 people. The cut and wrap operations of the EDC Business are located in a building owned by WCB, which is adjacent to WCB’s cheese manufacturing facility at Allansford.
The transaction will enable WCB to increase its presence in consumer branded everyday cheese products segment in Australia with strong market positions in this segment, and is consistent with Saputo’s stated strategy to invest in WCB to accelerate its growth in Australia.
About Saputo
Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. We are one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, the largest in Canada, the third in Argentina and the fourth in Australia. In the US, the Company ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products. Our products are sold in more than 40 countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, Baxter, COON, Cracker Barrel(2), Dairyland, Dragone, DuVillage 1860, Friendship, Frigo Cheese Heads, Great Midwest, King’s Choice, Kingsey, La Paulina, Milk2Go, Mil Lel, Neilson, Nutrilait, Ricrem, Salemville, Scotsburn2, Stella, Sungold and Treasure Cave. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company whose shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol «SAP».
Source: Benzinga
