Chiquita agreed yesterday to a $682m takeover by Brazilian juice maker Grupo Cutrale and investment firm Safra, with the banana producer going private early next year at the latest.
The acquisition is a victory for Brazilian-Lebanese financier Joseph Safra and orange juice baron Jose Luis Cutrale, who joined forces to add Chiquita to their tropical fruit business.
Both tycoons fought for almost three months to win control of Chiquita, which rebuffed their three previous takeover attempts and sought to merge with rival Fyffes.
Under terms of the accord disclosed in a statement, Chiquita will become a wholly owned unit of Cutrale-Safra and remain incorporated in New Jersey once the deal is finalised.
Chiquita, Fyffes, Fresh Del Monte Produce and Dole Food control the $7 billion global banana market.
"To ensure Chiquita has the premier and most sustainable platform in its sector, Chiquita will be able to access Cutrale-Safra's substantial experience in all aspects of the fruit and juice value chain and extensive financial expertise," the statement added.
Shares of Chiquita, which gained over 40% since August 11, when Cutrale-Safra made their takeover intentions public, added another 1% to $14.36 in New York last night.
The shares shed two-thirds of their value over the past decade in the face of geopolitical instability in Latin America, price volatility and uneven demand for fresh produce around the world.
Cutrale-Safra face the challenge of maintaining Chiquita's leading position in the banana market, bolstering slim margins and mitigating volatile operating conditions, analysts said.
The entity resulting from the failed Chiquita-Fyffes merger would have been the world's largest banana producer.
Shareholders of Chiquita will be paid $14.50 for each of their shares in cash, valuing the company at about $682m.
Cutrale-Safra will assume Chiquita's debt, with Safra-controlled bank J Safra Sarasin extending a buyback of the banana producer's senior bonds due in 2021.
The value of the deal, including debt, amounts to $1.3 billion, the statement said.
The deal comes as Safra, the world's richest banker, continues to diversify his $16 billion fortune out of banking, finance and property.
Faced with declining orange juice consumption globally, Cutrale and his family business are expanding into new regions and products after venturing into grain trading in recent years.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of the year or early 2015, the statement added.
"We look forward to working with Cutrale-Safra to ensure a smooth transition and complete the transaction as expeditiously as possible," Ed Lonergan, Chiquita's chief executive officer, said in a statement.
