Leading IAMS and Eukanuba brands offer solid growth potential and further expand the company’s European companion animal product line.

September 23, 2014

2 Min Read
Spectrum Brands to buy P&G's European pet food biz

Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SPB), a global and diversified consumer products company with market-leading brands, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Procter & Gamble’s (NYSE: PG) European pet food business, consisting of the complementary IAMS® and Eukanuba® premium brands for dogs and cats. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The business has approximately $200 million of annual sales and will provide Spectrum Brands’ United Pet Group division access to the $21 billion European dog and cat food market which is growing at an estimated 3 to 5 percent annually.

Eukanuba, a premium brand in the pet specialty channel, is the product of choice for the Federation Cynologique Internationale, a global federation of kennel clubs, as well as top breeders and veterinarians with leading shares in many large markets, including Sweden, Norway and Belgium. IAMS, a premium brand with broad consumer appeal, has a leadership share of the premium dry dog food market in the U.K. primarily through the food and mass merchandiser channel with opportunities to grow further across Europe.

“This acquisition will expand and further strengthen our United Pet Group’s broad companion animal product portfolio and help to achieve our objective for more balance between our two products segments of aquatics and companion animals,” said Dave Lumley, president and chief executive officer of Spectrum Brands Holdings. “We already have a strong European pet supplies infrastructure in place that will enable us to leverage these well-known pet food brands in the U.K and Europe. We also see important synergies in overhead, SG&A and distribution over the next few years.”

Eukanuba’s patented formula targets consumers who desire the best nutrition for their pets and is positioned as “extraordinary nutrition for extraordinary beings.” IAMS is positioned for consumers who treat their pets as family members and view the food they feed their pets as a way to make them happy.

“We are adding complementary brands in an adjacent category to expand our global pet business,” Mr. Lumley said.

“This is a strong European pet franchise with outstanding product brand equity and room for growth and margin enhancement,” said David Maura, chairman of Spectrum Brands. “As we continue to expand our Pet division organically and by targeted acquisitions, this business will provide more global balance to our Pet footprint by further building out our continental European and U.K. market presence. We look forward to the contributions it will make to growing our adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow.”

The acquisition, which has been approved by Spectrum Brands’ Board of Directors, is expected to close in 2015 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal advisor to Spectrum Brands.

 

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