Sara Lee

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Sara Lee buyout could pave way for JBS deal

A leveraged buyout of Sara Lee could pave the way for Brazilian beef processor JBS SA to buy the U.S. company’s meat division, analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report Thursday. Get the full story »

KKR potentially interested in Sara Lee: Sources

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. is potentially interested in Sara Lee and could possibly partner with an interested party as bidders emerge for the food group, two sources familiar with the situation said on Wednesday. Get the full story »

JBS, equity firms could team up on Sara Lee bid

JBS, the world’s top beef processor, could team up with a group of buyout firms as it seeks alternatives to win control of Sara Lee Corp., a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters Tuesday.

Private equity firms have pursued Sao Paulo-based JBS since reports about a potential bid for Sara Lee arose late last year, the source said. No accord over a joint bid has been reached, said the source, who declined to be quoted by name because the talks remain private. Get the full story »

Sara Lee credit default swaps up on possible bid

From Bloomberg News | Credit-default swaps on Sara Lee Corp. climbed to a record following a report that buyout firm Apollo Global Management LLC teamed up with investor C. Dean Metropoulos to consider a bid for the company.

Sara Lee shares up 2.5% on takeover talk

Shares of Sara Lee Corp. rose more than 2.5 percent Monday on reports that a group of private equity firms is interested in a buyout of the coffee and meat company. Get the full story »

Apollo, others consider Sara Lee buyout, sources say

Private-equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC and investor C. Dean Metropoulos have formed a group of investors to explore a purchase of Sara Lee Corp., people familiar with the matter said.

Apollo and Metropoulos, a Connecticut entrepreneur who acquired Pabst Brewing Co. last year, are leading a consortium that includes Bain Capital LLC and TPG Capital LP, the people said. Get the full story »

Sara Lee said to be moving ahead on break-up plan

Sara Lee Corp. is moving ahead with plans to split up its meats and coffee businesses into two separate companies after it rejected Brazilian beef processor JBS SA’s takeover offer last month, people familiar with the matter said.

JBS hasn’t ruled out its interest in buying the company, which has a market capitalization of about $11 billion, and could yet come back with a higher offer, these people said. But they cautioned that JBS, which has a market cap of about $10 billion, could have trouble securing financing for a deal. Get the full story »

SC Johnson buying Sara Lee’s Kiwi brand

SC Johnson said it is buying Sara Lee Corp.’s shoe care business, including the venerable Kiwi brand, for $328 million, as Sara Lee continues to shed nonfood segments.

The companies announced the deal, which also includes Sara Lee’s shoe accessory lines Bama International and Kiwi Kleen, on Friday. The deal is expected to close by mid-2011. Get the full story »

Sara Lee agrees to sell cleaning products unit

Sara Lee said it agreed to sell its White King and Janola cleaning products business to Australia-based detergent maker Symex Holdings for 37.9 million euros ($49.7 million).

The deal brings Sara Lee closer to its goal of focusing on selling food, coffee and tea.

Sara Lee, which has already spun off its body care, air care businesses and its stake in a joint venture with India’s Godrej, expects the deal with Symex to close during the first quarter of 2011. Get the full story »

Sale would cut-short Sara Lee transformation

In the past five years, Sara Lee Corp. once a hodgepodge of consumer brands, has narrowed its focus to food. But its businesses, which include Douwe Egberts coffee and Hillshire Farm deli meats, still have little in common, one reason the company has become a tempting takeover target.

Earlier this year, Sara Lee’s board rebuffed an approach by private-equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. In recent weeks, it has been considering a sale of the company to Brazilian meat processor JBS SA, people familiar with the matter said. Get the full story »

Sara Lee reported in sales talks

Sara Lee Corp. is considering selling itself to Brazilian meat producer JBS, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site, citing people familiar with the matter.

JBS approached Sara Lee first and discussions between the two companies have been on and off for several months, the Journal reported, citing these sources. Sara Lee has been considering JBS’s offer more seriously of late, according to the Journal. Get the full story »

Unilever approved to buy Sara Lee Kenya unit

Kenya granted Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group Unilever approval to buy Sara Lee’s subsidiary in the east African nation, a government notice showed on Friday. Get the full story »

Sara Lee shares, options up on takeover talk

From Bloomberg News | Sara Lee Corp. was headed for the highest close in almost three years and trading of bullish options jumped to five times the four-week average on speculation that the food company may be acquired.

The shares advanced a fourth day, touching a high of $16.05 around 9 a.m.. Almost 10,000 calls to buy the stock changed hands, six times the number of puts to sell. About half of the call volume was concentrated in December $16 calls, which rose 50 percent. Get the full story>>

Sara Lee sells rest of body care brands to Unilever

Sara Lee Corp. has completed the $1.6 billion sale of its body care and European detergent segments to Unilever NV, the food company said Monday. Get the full story »

Sara Lee to buy regional Brazilian coffee company

Sara Lee Corp. said Monday it agreed to buy Cafe Damasco, a small Brazilian coffee company, for roughly $60 million as it looks to strengthen its position in South America’s largest country. Cafe Damasco has a leading position in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, and 2009 net sales of about $60 million. Get the full story »