$1.2B multi-location bakery with distribution into groceries, restaurants, and foodservice

Company Overview

The Buyer was a multi-location bakery with distribution into groceries, restaurants, and foodservice.

The Company sought to geographically diversify its sales with greater penetration into existing markets and customers.

The Target was a $1.2B North American operation of a global company looking to carve out an underperforming unit. Target had 11 production facilities across North America and a diversified portfolio of products, sales channels, and customers.

Engagement Overview

A successful acquisition would greatly expand the Company’s footprint and more than double total sales.

Target would have required a restructuring of operations and heavily consume the limited management bandwidth for the foreseeable future.

The Company retained Fort Dearborn to evaluate the financial impact of a successful transaction and determine the appropriate financing structure, the target valuation, and communicate with the investment bank.

FDP reviewed and valued the forecasted cash flows of Target and reviewed recent comparable transactions and trading multiples for comparable public companies.

FDP prepared a financial forecast for the combined Buyer and Target, including additional debt, purchase price accounting, and an assessment of Target’s operations and synergistic value to the Company.

Upon review of Target’s business and financial statements, FDP concluded that Target was severely impacted by COVID-19, and Target’s ownership group was overly optimistic regarding its ability to restore existing sales and return to profitable growth.

Results

FDP advised management that the acquisition was a highly risky endeavor that could put the Company’s financial health at risk.

The acquisition would require significant management resources and possibly significant restructuring activities on underperforming locations. The overall health of Target was fundamentally misaligned with the acquisition asking price.

While the Buyer did not win the auction process, it likely avoided overpaying for a distressed asset which would have consumed management’s time for many years.

FDP News

Oct - 22

Alice Chan joins Fort Dearborn Partners

Fort Dearborn Partners is pleased to announce that Alice Chan has joined our firm as a Director.

Read More

Sep - 22

Bears Win Season Opener!

Not even the worst flooding in 2 years could stop the Bears from winning their season opener.

Read More

Jun - 22

Fort Dearborn advises HF Foods Group, Inc. - Sealand Food, Inc.

Fort Dearborn Partners (FDP) is pleased to announce we served as sole financial advisor to HF Foods Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HFFG) in its transaction with Sealand Food, Inc.

Read More