Conagra Brands Enters Into Definitive Agreement With Richardson International To Divest The Wesson® Oil Brand

CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Richardson International to divest the Wesson oil brand. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals. We anticipate the transaction to be finalized by the end of the first quarter of calendar year 2019. The agreement includes all assets exclusively related to the Wesson brand, including the facility in Memphis, Tenn. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Wesson is an iconic edible oil in the U.S., with product offerings including vegetable, canola, corn and blended oils. 

Richardson International is Canada's largest agribusiness and is recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing.

About Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com. 

Note on Forward-looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding expected benefits of a potential divestiture of the Wesson oil brand, expectations about future business plans, prospective performance and opportunities, regulatory approvals and the expected timing of the completion of the transaction. Readers of this document should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. There is no assurance that the potential transaction will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: risk related to the timing to complete a potential divestiture of certain assets related to the Wesson oil brand; risks related to the ability and timing to obtain required regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions for the transaction; risks related to Conagra Brands' ability to achieve the intended benefits of acquisitions and divestitures, including the transaction described in this press release and the spin-off of Conagra Brands' Lamb Weston business in the second quarter of fiscal 2017; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the acquisition of Pinnacle Foods (the "acquisition") may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that the acquisition may not be accretive within the expected timeframe or to the extent anticipated; the risks that the acquisition and related integration will create disruption to Conagra Brands and its management and impede the achievement of business plans; the risk that the acquisition will negatively impact the ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and other third parties; risks associated with general economic and industry conditions; risks associated with Conagra Brands' ability to successfully execute its long-term value creation strategies, including those in place for specific brands at Pinnacle Foods before the acquisition; risks related to Conagra Brands' ability to deleverage on currently anticipated timelines, and to continue to access capital on acceptable terms or at all; risks related to Conagra Brands' ability to execute operating and restructuring plans and achieve targeted operating efficiencies from cost-saving initiatives, related to the acquisition and otherwise, and to benefit from trade optimization programs, related to the acquisition and otherwise; risks related to the effectiveness of Conagra Brands' hedging activities and ability to respond to volatility in commodities; risks related to the Company's competitive environment and related market conditions; risks related to Conagra Brands' ability to respond to changing consumer preferences and the success of its innovation and marketing investments; risks related to the ultimate impact of any product recalls and litigation, including litigation related to the lead paint and pigment matters; risk associated with actions of governments and regulatory bodies that affect Conagra Brands' businesses, including the ultimate impact of recently enacted U.S. tax legislation and related regulations or interpretations; risks related to the availability and prices of raw materials, including any negative effects caused by inflation or weather conditions; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill or intangible assets impairment charges, related to the acquisition or otherwise; the costs, disruption, and diversion of management's attention associated with campaigns commenced by activist investors or due to the integration of the acquisition; and other risks described in Conagra Brands' reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this document, which speak only as of the date of this document. We undertake no responsibility to update these statements, except as required by law.

For more information, please contact:
MEDIA:
Dan Hare
312-549-5355
[email protected]

INVESTORS:
Brian Kearney
312-549-5002
[email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.