Germany's JAB to take Krispy Kreme private for $1.35 billion

Reuters

Published May 09, 2016 14:59

Updated May 09, 2016 15:10

Germany's JAB to take Krispy Kreme private for $1.35 billion

(Reuters) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc (N:KKD) will be taken private by JAB Holding Co for about $1.35 billion (1 billion pounds), the second buyout of a U.S. food company by the German investment firm in just over two months.

Krispy Kreme shares rose nearly 24 percent to $20.88 in premarket trading on Monday, just shy of the offer price of $21 per share in cash.

JAB Holding will acquire Krispy Kreme through its unit JAB Beech Inc, in which BDT Capital Partners is a minority investor.

The U.S. donut chain had 1,121 stores worldwide as of January, of which 824 were in markets outside the United States.

Krispy Kreme said it would continue to operate as an independent company after the deal closes and remain headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

JAB Holding, the investment vehicle of the billionaire Reimann family, led a buyout of K-cup coffee pod maker Keurig Green Mountain Inc (NASDAQ:GMCR) in March for $13.9 billion.

Cosmetics company Coty Inc (N:COTY) and luxury goods maker Jimmy Choo (L:CHOO) are among the other U.S. companies in which the German company has controlling stakes.

The Krispy Kreme deal, which has no financing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter. The company said it was postponing its annual shareholder meeting scheduled for June 14 due to the deal.

Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) Securities LLC is the U.S. company's financial adviser for the deal, while Barclays (LON:BARC) and BDT & Co LLC are advising JAB Beech.