14/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 15/08/2024 00:00
Performance Food Group Company (PFG) (NYSE:PFGC) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Cheney Bros., Inc. ("Cheney Brothers"), a leading independent broadline foodservice distributor based in Riviera Beach, Florida and owned by the Cheney family and Clayton Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R"), pursuant to which PFG will acquire Cheney Brothers for $2.1 billion in cash. The acquisition will create a stronger presence in the Southeast region and provide additional distribution capacity. Cheney Brothers generates approximately $3.2 billion in annual revenue.
"Cheney Brothers will be an outstanding addition to our Foodservice segment, and we are excited to welcome their many talented associates to the PFG family of companies", said George Holm, PFG Chairman & CEO. "This acquisition will expand and enhance our offerings to a high-quality and diverse customer base. We have long admired the success of Cheney Brothers in the Southeastern U.S. and believe that the combination of our organizations will push the business to new heights. We are excited for what the future holds for the newest addition to PFG."
"On behalf of the 3,600 Cheney Brothers associates, allow me to express our excitement at the prospect of being part of PFG's organization", said Byron Russell, Cheney Brothers' CEO. "I have watched PFG grow into one of the country's largest foodservice distributors by fostering new business relationships and maintaining a strong company culture. I believe this transaction will bring together two winning organizations and create a significant platform for growth. Together, the companies will build upon each other's strengths and achieve outstanding success in the years ahead."
Compelling Strategic and Financial Benefits
Transaction Financing
The $2.1 billion purchase price is expected to be financed with borrowing on the company's ABL facility and new Senior Unsecured Notes.
Transaction Approvals
The transaction, which has been approved by the Board of Directors of PFG, is subject to U.S. federal antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in calendar 2025. The transaction is not subject to PFG shareholder approval.
About Performance Food Group Company
Performance Food Group is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations. Founded and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, PFG and our family of companies market and deliver quality food and related products to over 300,000 locations including independent and chain restaurants; businesses, schools and healthcare facilities; vending and office coffee service distributors; and big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores. PFG's success as a Fortune 100 company is achieved through approximately 37,000 dedicated associates committed to building strong relationships with the valued customers, suppliers and communities we serve. To learn more about PFG, including how you can join our team, visit pfgc.com.
About Cheney Bros, Inc.
Cheney Brothers is one of the leading foodservice distributors in the Southeast, with annual sales of more than $3 billion. Florida-born, family-owned and operated since 1925, the business has grown to world-wide distribution with over 1.5-million-square feet of distribution space. Insisting upon top-quality products from nationally recognized manufacturers, Cheney Brothers' broad inventory consists of more than 65,000 stocked items, from gourmet to everyday. For additional information, please visit www.cheneybrothers.com.
About CD&R
Founded in 1978, CD&R is a leading private investment firm with a strategy of generating strong investment returns by building more robust and sustainable businesses through the combination of skilled investment experience and deep operating capabilities. In partnership with the management teams of its portfolio companies, CD&R takes a long-term view of value creation and emphasizes positive stewardship and impact. The firm invests in businesses that span a broad range of industries, including industrial, healthcare, consumer, technology and financial services end markets. CD&R is privately owned by its partners and has offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit www.cdr-inc.com and follow the firm's activities through LinkedIn and @CDRBuilds on X/Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding the performance of our business, our financial results, our liquidity and capital resources, completion and subsequent integration of our proposed acquisition of Cheney Bros., Inc. (the "Cheney Brothers Transaction") and other nonhistorical statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "projects," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The following factors, in addition to those discussed under the section entitled Item 1A Risk Factors in PFG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 16, 2023 and PFG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on May 8, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements:
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in our filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement, including any contained herein, speaks only as of the time of this release or as of the date they were made and we do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available or to disclose any facts, events, or circumstances after the date of this release or our statement, as applicable, that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, including Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS. Such measures are not recognized terms under GAAP, should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or diluted EPS prepared in accordance with GAAP, and are not indicative of amounts as determined under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Diluted EPS, and other non-GAAP financial measures have limitations that should be considered before using these measures to evaluate PFG's financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because of varying methods of calculation.
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income before interest expense, interest income, income and franchise taxes, and depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude certain items we do not consider part of our core operating results. Such adjustments include certain unusual, non-cash, non-recurring, cost reduction, and other adjustment items permitted in calculating covenant compliance under PFG's credit agreement and indenture (other than certain pro forma adjustments permitted under our credit agreement and indenture relating to the Adjusted EBITDA contribution of acquired entities or businesses prior to the acquisition date). Under PFG's credit agreement and indenture, the company's ability to engage in certain activities such as incurring certain additional indebtedness, making certain investments, and making restricted payments is tied to ratios based on Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement and indenture).
Management also uses Adjusted Diluted EPS, which is calculated by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure by excluding the same items excluded in PFG's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, as well as amortization of intangible assets, to the extent that each such item was included in the applicable GAAP financial measure. For business combinations, PFG generally allocates a portion of the purchase price to intangible assets and such intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. The amount of the allocation is based on estimates and assumptions made by management and is subject to amortization over the useful lives of the intangible assets. The amount of the purchase price from an acquisition allocated to intangible assets and the term of its related amortization can vary significantly and are unique to each acquisition, and thus PFG does not believe it is reflective of ongoing operations. Intangible asset amortization excluded from Adjusted Diluted EPS represents the entire amount recorded within PFG's GAAP financial statements; whereas, the revenue generated by the associated intangible assets has not been excluded from Adjusted Diluted EPS. Intangible asset amortization is excluded from Adjusted Diluted EPS because the amortization, unlike the related revenue, is not affected by operations of any particular period unless an intangible asset becomes impaired, or the estimated useful life of an intangible asset is revised.
PFG believes that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS is useful to investors because these metrics provide insight into underlying business trends and year-over-year results and are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in their evaluation of the operating performance of companies in PFG's industry.