LONDON, April 10 (LPC) - Bankers have lined up €445m of debt financing to back an acquisition of sustainable food provider Koninklijke Wessanen by a PAI Partners-led consortium.
The consortium, comprising private equity firm PAI Partners and Charles Jobson agreed on an €885m acquisition, it was announced on Wednesday.
The consortium agreed to pay €11.5 per share of Wessanen, in cash, 21% higher than Wessanen’s closing price of €9.47 on March 13, the day prior to the announcement by Wessanen regarding its discussions on a possible cash offer.
Following the completion of the transaction, PAI will hold around 62% in the consortium and Charles Jobson will hold around 38%.
The acquisition will be funded with €445m of senior debt financing, alongside €484m in equity.
The offer is expected to close in the second half of 2019.
Wessanen, which provides healthy and sustainable food in the European market, had revenues of €628m in 2018 and employed on average 1,350 people. (Editing by Claire Ruckin)