Pillsbury Sold: Smucker Slices Off US Baking Business for $375M

J.M. Smucker Co. will sell Pillsbury, Martha White and Hungry Jack to private equity firm Brynwood Partners, which is buying the company's U.S. baking business for $375 million, the company said Monday.

The deal includes a manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio, but excludes the baking business in Canada, the company said.

"The divestiture reflects our strategy to further focus our portfolio and develop a stronger presence in pet food, coffee, and snacking," Chief Executive Officer Mark Smucker said in a statement.

Smucker in May completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Rachael Ray Dog food maker Ainsworth Pet Nutrition.

The company said it expected the divestiture to reduce adjusted earnings by 25 cents to 30 cents on a full-year basis, while net impact would be only slightly dilutive to its fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings per share.

The business generated net sales of about $370 million for its fiscal year ended April 30, the company said.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of the company's 2019 fiscal year.

(Reporting by Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

• J.M. Smucker Growth Continues On Acquisitions
• Nestle, Ferrero Make Sweet $2.8B Deal for US Candy Business