Shares of Nash-Finch Company (NASDAQ: NAFC) soared on Monday after the regional grocery distributor Spartan Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: SPTN) announced that it has agreed to buy the food distributor company in an all-stock deal, estimated at around $1.3 billion, including debt.
The merged entity will have 22 distribution centers, which will cover 37 states and 117 retail stores, making it as the leading distributor to military commissaries and exchanges in the U.S. In addition, the new company will have sales of $7.5 billion, annually.
According to the terms of the deal, each Nash-Finch shareholder will be offered 1.2 shares of Spartan for every share held at Nash-Finch Company. This implies that Nash-Finch shares were valued a $25.44 which is a penny more than its closing stock price on Friday.
Following the merger, Spartan’s shareholders will hold around 58% stake in the new entity while Nash-Finch Company’s shareholders will own approximately 42% in the company.
Nash-Finch, whose shares once traded above $40 (early March 2011), saw sharp drop in its stock valuation, hitting as low as $18.64 in March as its balance sheet weakened amid piling up of debt, which the company borrowed it to finance some acquisitions even as intensifying competition in the discount food sector, impacted its business.
The deal is expected to help the merged entity to save about $50 million in costs, annually.
After the merger, Spartan Store’s President and Chief Executive Dennis Eidson will be assigned the same roles while Spartan’s Chairman Craig Sturken will serve as the head of the board. The Board will include five members from Nash Finch and seven members from Spartan.
The boards of both companies have unanimously approved the deal and it is likely to get closed by the end of this year.
Commenting over the deal, Eidson said, “This transformational transaction provides a unique opportunity to bring together Spartan Stores’ grocery distribution and retail operations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio with Nash Finch’s leading position in grocery distribution to military commissaries and exchanges and its complementary wholesale grocery network throughout the U.S.”
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