26.07.2021

CVC Capital Partners VIII and Ebro enter into exclusive discussions for the acquisition of the Panzani dry pasta, couscous, sauces and semolina business

CVC Capital Partners VIII and Ebro enter into exclusive discussions for the acquisition of the Panzani dry pasta, couscous, sauces and semolina business

Madrid, 26 July 2021. CVC Capital Partners VIII (www.cvc.com) and the Ebro Group (www.ebrofoods.es) have entered into exclusive discussions for the acquisition by CVC Capital Partners VIII of Panzani® dry pasta, couscous, sauces and semolina business.

More specifically, the transaction would include: 1) the Panzani®, Ferrero®, Regia®, Zakia® and Le Renard® brands, and 2) all the operating assets (including plants and mills) related to these brands. The business perimeter contemplated in the transaction posted a turnover of €470 million in 2020 and employs 750 employees. It will remain headquartered in Lyon, France. The divestment would not have any social impact on the employees of the business.

The transaction remains subject to the French workers’ representatives information and consultation, customary regulatory approvals and the approval of General Shareholders Meeting of Ebro Foods, S.A. It is expected that the envisaged transaction would be completed before 31 December 2021.

The transaction has been valued at €550 million (the value of 100% of the business) and would comprise the sale of 100% of the share capital of Panzani S.A.S. Prior to the envisaged transaction, the fresh pasta and rice businesses, including leading brands Lustucru Selection® and Taureau Ailé®, would be carved-out and therefore remain within the Ebro Group.

This divestment is in line with Ebro’s strategic goals for the period 2019-2021 and would enable Ebro to further concentrate its resources with a view to strengthening and expanding its premium, fresh pasta and convenience businesses, in which it is a global leader.

Rothschild & Co is acting as exclusive financial advisers to Ebro Foods in this transaction. BNP Paribas, Rabobank, and Spayne Lindsay are acting as exclusive financial advisers to CVC Capital Partners.

About CVC Capital Partners

CVC is a leading private equity and investment advisory firm with a network of 24 offices throughout Europe, Asia and the US, with US$115 billion of assets under management. Since its founding in 1981, CVC has secured commitments in excess of US$162 billion from some of the world’s leading institutional investors across its private equity and credit strategies. Funds managed or advised by CVC are invested in over 90 companies worldwide, which have combined annual sales of approximately US$100 billion and employ more than 450,000 people.

For further information about CVC please visit:  www.cvc.com.

About Ebro Foods

Ebro Foods (www.ebrofoods.es) is the leading Group in the Spanish food sector in terms of turnover, profit, market capitalisation and international presence. Ebro is world leader in the rice sector and the second group in the international pasta sector. It has leading brands in each of these sectors, including: Panzani®, Olivieri®, Bertagni®, Garofalo®, Santa Lucia®, Russo de Cicciano® and Roland Monterrat® in pastas and sauces; Mahatma®, Success®, Carolina®, Minute Rice®, RiceSelect®, Tilda®, Lustucru Selection®, Taureau Ailé®, Oryza®, Bosto®, Reis-Fit®, Riceland®, Danrice®, Risella®, Abu Bint®, Blue Ribbon®, Adolphus®, Comet®, Lassie®, Saludaes®, SOS®, Brillante®, La Cigala®, Sundari® and La Fallera® in the rice sector; Santa Rita® in high value-added ingredients; and Geovita® in the area of pulses, quick-cooking grains and other healthy ingredients.

For more information:

prensa@ebrofoods.es

+34 917245250