Hormel agrees to acquire Applegate Farms

May 29, 2015

Hormel Foods Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Applegate Farms LLC , owner of the Applegate brand in the natural and organic prepared meats category.

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Applegate Farms LLC , owner of the Applegate brand in the natural and organic prepared meats category. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals in the United States, and is expected to close within 60 days. “A growing number of consumers are choosing natural and organic products. This deal allows us to expand the breadth of our protein offerings to provide consumers more choice,” said Jeffrey M Ettinger, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “The

Applegate team has built a great brand, and consumers can rest assured there will not be any changes to the way Applegate meats are raised and produced. Together, we can provide a faster path to expanded offerings in this high-growth category.” Applegate will operate autonomously as a stand-alone subsidiary in the company’s Refrigerated Foods segment. Applegate has 100 employees located primarily in Bridgewater NJ, and the company will be managed by this core Applegate team plus a few new staffers from the parent company who will relocate to Bridgewater. Applegate has strategic relationships with a diverse set of manufacturers and processors who draw from about 1,800 family farms. Applegate 2015 annual sales are expected to be about $340 million. The purchase price is approximately $775 million. Including estimated deal costs and fair-value adjustments, the deal is projected to be neutral to Hormel Foods earnings per share in fiscal 2015, and accretive by around 7 to 8 cents per share in fiscal 2016. Hormel Foods expects this acquisition to be accretive to company growth targets. Credit Suisse is serving as financial advisor to Hormel Foods in connection with this transaction. Selling shareholders are Stephen McDonnell and Swander Pace Capital. Go to www.applegate.com or www.hormelfoods.com for further information.