News on Mergers and Acquisitions

Paragon Partners has agreed to sell its shares in potato processing company KADI AG located in Switzerland to Invision, thereby securing KADI’s long-term, independent perspective as leading supplier of premium potato products in Switzerland.

Private Equity investor Nordian Capital has acquired a majority interest in Dutch TecSource (DTS), a leading manufacturer of screw blanching equipment for the potato processing industry

French Fry manufacturer Aviko, a subsidiary of Royal Cosun and Snow Valley Agriculture have agreed to end their joint venture in China.

PepsiCo has announced its intention to take over the UK based snack food company Pipers Crisps.

Calbee has acquired UK potato chip manufacturer Seabrook Crisps from Private equity investor LDC

Japanese snack food manufacturer Calbee has transferred all its shares in the Calbee-URC, Inc. joint venture targeting the Philippine snack market to Universal Robina Corporation (URC).

About a quarter of the workers at the Cape Cod Potato Chips facility in Hyannis, Massachusetts were laid off as two of the three production lines are shut down.

Wada Farms announced this week it has entered into a strategic partnership with organic potato packer Genesis Organics located in Southern Idaho.

Processing Equipment manufacturers Key Technology, Inc. and Heat and Control Pty Ltd. announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership to support customers in Australia, New Zealand and India.

Earlier this month, KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack Group, announced it had reached an agreement to acquire Popchips Ltd, which owns and operates the Popchips brand for Europe.

Earlier this month Nomad Foods Limited announced that it had completed its previously announced acquisition of Aunt Bessie’s Limited from William Jackson & Son Limited for a purchase price of approximately €240 million.

Bosch has decided to sell it packaging business. Although Bosch Packaging Technology is among the largest manufacturers of packaging equipment world-wide, the company does not consider it its core business.

The Cape Cod Potato Chips plant, located in Hyannis Mass., is now owned by Campbell Soup Co., acquired as part of its Snyder’s-Lance purchase. A year after plans were announced for a $20 million expansion, the future of the Hyannis production facility is once again uncertain as Campbell is reviewing all capital expenditures.

PepsiCo, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bare Foods Co. (doing business as Bare Snacks), a U.S.-based maker of baked fruit and vegetable snacks.

Shearer's Snacks has sold the Barrel O' Fun and Rachel's brands to UR Brands — an affiliate of Old Dutch Foods.

Bayer plans to complete the acquisition of Monsanto on June, 7, following the receipt of all required approvals from regulatory authorities.

Last month the Intersnack Group announced that it had reached agreement for its KP Snacks business to acquire Tyrrells, Inc. and its global portfolio of better-for-you, premium snack brands from The Hershey Company.

KWS has offered to buy Bayer’s Dutch vegetable seed company Nunhems.