Post Holdings, Inc. on Jan. 2 completed its acquisition of Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. from Viterra, Inc. The purchase price for the transaction was $370 million in cash, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment, and was funded through Post’s existing cash resources. Dakota Growers Pasta manufactures a full line of dry pastas for retail, food service and food processors, including whole grain and organic items. Product lines include Dakota Growers Pasta, Dreamfields and Pasta Sanita.
Based in Carrington, N.D., Dakota Growers has durum wheat milling and pasta production capabilities as well as operations in New Hope, Minn. When Post first announced its intent to acquire Dakota Growers back in September, the company said Dakota Growers would be managed independently from other Post businesses by its existing management team led by Ed Irion, vice-president and general manager.
The transaction is structured as a stock purchase, in which Post has agreed to purchase all of the outstanding stock of Agricore United Holdings Inc., the parent company of Dakota Growers. As part of the acquisition, Post also acquired the durum wheat inventory held by Viterra for the Dakota Growers business.
Post said that on a full-year basis it expects Dakota Growers to contribute approximately $300 million to net sales and approximately $42 million to $46 million of E.B.I.T.D.A.
Glencore acquired Dakota Growers as part of its acquisition of Viterra Inc. in 2012. Viterra had acquired Dakota Growers for $240 million in 2010.
