PHOTO
- The acquisition is in line with Savola Foods’ strategy to develop a contemporary business & focus on the youthful and growing categories
Dubai, United Arab Emirates : Savola Group, a leading strategic investment holding company with focus on the food and retail sectors in the Middle East and North Africa; Levant Capital, an investment management firm based in Dubai; and Spicemen Limited, announced today the completion of the acquisition of Bayara Holding Limited (“Bayara”) by Savola Foods Company (“Savola Foods”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Savola Group. With nearly three decades of operations, Bayara is a leading packaged foods company based in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) offering a wide range of nuts, spices, dried fruits, pulses and snacks with a distribution network spanning across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and more than thirty other countries across the Middle East and Africa.
Savola Foods acquired 100% of Bayara for USD 260 million in cash (approximately SAR 975 million). The acquisition is pivotal to Savola’s growth strategy focused on expansion into high growth, value-added food categories with propositions directed towards younger population.
Bayara brings well-established sourcing and go-to-market capabilities together with strong potential for synergies with Savola Foods. Its business is driven by the prevailing trend towards achieving a healthy lifestyle and a growing younger population.
Bayara recorded net sales of approximately SAR 420 million for the twelve-month period ending in March 2021 with a healthy mid-teens EBITDA margin.
Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Waleed Fatani, Savola Group CEO stated “the acquisition of Bayara represents a strategic addition to Savola Group, and a demonstration of our commitment to continue growing Savola’s portfolio with future focused businesses. It reinforces our overarching focus on growth and delivering long-term value creation for our shareholders”.
Sameh Hassan, CEO of Savola Foods, added “the acquisition of Bayara comes within the strategy framework of Savola Foods, which aims to diversify our business through focused expansions, primarily benefiting from the increased spending on healthy food trends. We are seeking to introduce and drive this new business under Savola Foods through regional expansion while strengthening and consolidating our base in the UAE”.
“We are excited that Bayara will be joining the Savola Foods team. Bayara has achieved remarkable success over the past thirty years, and we look forward to building on this strong foundation to continue this momentum through this next stage” said Jean Marc Lourau, CEO of Bayara.
Eversheds Sutherland acted as legal advisor to Savola Foods and EY was retained for financial advisory and finance & tax diligence. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as legal advisor to Levant Capital and Spicemen.
-Ends-
About Savola Group
Established in 1979, Savola Group is a Saudi Arabia based leading strategic investment holding group in the food and retail sectors in the Middle East and North Africa region. Savola has built a reputation for creating “Value Built on Values” through its diverse and expanding portfolio of investments in leading food and retail companies.
Savola operates the largest grocery store chain in Saudi Arabia, and produces food products across categories, including edible oil, sugar, pasta, bakery products and frozen foods, for its valued customers in over 50 countries worldwide. Its portfolio of investments includes Almarai, Herfy, Al Kabeer, Panda Retail, Savola Foods among others.
About Levant Capital
Levant Capital is an independent financial services firm that is focused on private market investments and private client services catering to sophisticated family offices.
The firm was established in 2006 in Dubai and manages several funds that count regional and international institutions and leading family offices as investors. Levant Capital has significant experience investing in the consumer sector: current and past investments include Al Raya Supermarkets, Bayara, Panço Kids, Papa John’s Pizza UAE and KSA, and Power Horse Energy Drinks. Levant Investment Management Limited is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
