<p><strong>Camden, NJ</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Campbell Soup Company has entered into an agreement to acquire Bolthouse Farms. The company will acquire Bolthouse from a fund managed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity firm, for $1.55 billion in cash. The acquisition of the vertically integrated food and beverage company will expand Campbell's portfolio of healthy beverages and provide significant presence in the growing market for $12-billion market for packaged fresh foods. Bolthouse has leading market positions in fresh carrots and super-premium beverages in the United States, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Denise Morrison, Campbell’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Bolthouse is a great strategic fit with Campbell. Its business platforms, capabilities and culture are well aligned with the core growth strategies we announced last year. Its strong position in the high-growth packaged fresh category complements our chilled soup business in North America, and offers exciting opportunities for expansion into adjacent packaged fresh segments that respond directly to powerful consumer trends.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Campbell plans to operate Bolthouse Farms as a separate business unit. Members of Bolthouse’s senior management team, including President and CEO Jeff Dunn, will remain with the company. Mr. Dunn has built a strong team with deep expertise in beverage and consumer packaged goods, and he will report directly to Denise Morrison.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> President and CEO Jeff Dunn, stated, “We are delighted to be joining Campbell and its family of beloved brands. Campbell’s 140-plus year history of providing high-quality foods and beverages to consumers complements Bolthouse’s history of growth and innovation in fresh and packaged fresh foods. We are excited by the alignment between our strategic visions and the significant opportunities for accelerated growth for both companies.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.bolthouse.com" target="_new"> Bolthouse Farms </a><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.campbellsoup.com" target="_new"> Campbell Soup Company</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
