TreeHouse closes $170 mln buy of PE-backed Protenergy Natural Foods

TreeHouse Foods Inc (NYSE: THS) has closed its $170 million buy of Protenergy Natural Foods Corp, a Richmond, Ontario-based manufacturer of food and beverage products, such as private label broths, soups and gravies. TreeHouse said the deal is expected to have a US$0.05 to US$0.07 impact on its 2014 earnings per share. The sellers in the deal were Canadian private equity firm Whitecastle Investments, the firm’s partnership Whitecap Venture Partners, and other investors. Protenergy is also a portfolio company of Canadian alternative assets investor Kensington Capital Partners. Based in Toronto, Whitecastle is a family-owned investment vehicle.

PRESS RELEASE

TreeHouse Foods Completes Acquisition of Protenergy Natural Foods

OAKBROOK, Ill., May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) today announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of Protenergy Natural Foods, an industry leading developer and manufacturer of premium quality food and beverage products, namely private label broth, soups and gravies. Protenergy Natural Foods had sales of approximately CAD $130 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013. TreeHouse paid CAD $170 million (approximately US $150 million) in cash for the business, subject to an adjustment for working capital, and financed the transaction under its existing credit facility.

The Company confirmed that the transaction is expected to have approximately $0.05 to $0.07 impact on 2014 earnings per share and to add approximately $0.11 to $0.14 in EPS in 2015.

ABOUT PROTENERGY NATURAL FOODS
Protenergy Natural Foods Corporation is a technologically advanced innovative manufacturer of premium quality natural food and beverage products. The company is centrally located in the Greater Toronto area and provides innovative product development expertise. Its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility enables customers to receive products of the highest quality; costs savings based on economies of scale and a highly efficient manufacturing process; and improved shelf life due to process and fully integrated operations. More information is available at www.protenergyfoods.com.

ABOUT TREEHOUSE FOODS
TreeHouse is a food manufacturer servicing primarily the retail grocery and foodservice distribution channels. Our products include non-dairy powdered creamers and sweeteners; condensed, ready to serve and powdered soups; refrigerated and shelf stable salad dressings and sauces; powdered drink mixes; single serve hot beverages; specialty teas; hot and cold cereals; macaroni and cheese, skillet dinners, and other value-added side dishes and salads; salsa and Mexican sauces; jams and pie fillings; pickles and related products; aseptic sauces; and liquid non-dairy creamer. We believe we are the largest manufacturer of pickles and non-dairy powdered creamer in the United States, and the largest manufacturer of private label salad dressings, powdered drink mixes, and instant hot cereals in the United States and Canada, based on sales volume.

Additional information, including TreeHouse’s most recent statements on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, may be found at TreeHouse Foods’ website, http://www.treehousefoods.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “seek to,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause TreeHouse or its industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. TreeHouse’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and other filings with the SEC, discuss some of the factors that could contribute to these differences. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this press release. TreeHouse expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein, to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto, or any other change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
SOURCE TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

RELATED LINKS

http://www.treehousefoods.com
http://www.protenergyfoods.com

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