News

ConAgra to split into two

20 Nov 2015

ConAgra Foods has announced plans to separate into two independent public companies: one comprising its consumer portfolio of brands and the other comprising its foodservice portfolio of frozen potato products.

ConAgra Foods has announced plans to pursue the separation of the company into two independent public companies: one comprising its consumer portfolio of brands and the other comprising its foodservice portfolio of frozen potato products. The consumer brands business will be renamed Conagra Brands and the frozen potato business will operate under the Lamb Weston name.

“The decision to separate into two pure-play companies reflects our ongoing commitment to implementing bold changes in order to deliver sustainable growth and enhanced shareholder value,” said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer, ConAgra Foods. “We carefully considered a variety of strategic alternatives, and believe that the separation of our Lamb Weston specialty potato business from our consumer brands business is the best way to drive shareholder value. The separation will enable each company to sharpen its strategic focus and provide flexibility to capitalize on the unique growth opportunities in its respective market. Shareholders will gain direct exposure to more focused consumer and commercial foods businesses, each with distinct customer bases and investment profiles. We are confident that this separation will best position each company to compete and win while creating compelling long-term value for shareholders and delivering benefits to employees, customers and other key stakeholders.”

The two businesses operate in distinct markets and possess unique and compelling growth prospects and investment requirements, the company said. In addition, ConAgra Foods believes that the separation will result in other material benefits to the standalone companies, including greater management focus on the distinct businesses of consumer brands and foodservice frozen potato products; increased flexibility, agility and resources to capitalize on their respective long-term opportunities and growth strategies; tailored capital structures and financial policies and targets appropriate for each company’s unique business profile; and the ability for investors to value the two companies based on their particular operational and financial characteristics and invest accordingly.