Conagra Brands and Hometown Food Company to divest the Chef Boyardee brand
Conagra Brands Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Hometown Food Company, a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners, to divest its iconic line of Chef Boyardee brand.
The transaction includes the manufacturing facility in Milton, Pa., as well as all assets and operations dedicated to the Chef Boyardee shelf-stable products with the exception of frozen skillet meals, which will be licensed by Hometown Food Company to Conagra.
The Chef Boyardee products that are part of the transaction contributed approximately US$450 million to Conagra's fiscal year 2024 net sales. The divestiture is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals. The sale price is US$600 million in cash and is expected to close in Q1 of Conagra's fiscal year 2026.
"The Chef Boyardee divestiture marks another milestone in reshaping the Conagra Brands portfolio for better long-term growth, while also paying down debt. Despite the uncertain external environment, Conagra remains proactive in its pursuit of shareholder-value creation. By deepening our focus on our leading, growth-oriented frozen and healthy-snacking businesses, we continue to build a more focused company with modern consumer brands," said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands.
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The company estimates that, had the transaction been completed at the start of fiscal year 2025, the divestiture would have been approximately 4% dilutive to adjusted earnings per share for the year, excluding transaction costs and other one-time impacts. Conagra expects to use the net proceeds from the transaction to pay down debt. The company will further discuss the transaction and its impact on fiscal year 2026 when it releases its fourth quarter results.
Centerview Partners LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Conagra Brands. Mayer Brown LLP acted as legal counsel to Conagra Brands.
