June 25, 2008
Firm represents Soros Fund Management LLC in investor consortium acquisition of ConAgra Trade Group from ConAgra Foods, Inc.
On June 23, ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced the completion of the $2.8 billion sale of its commodity trading and merchandising operations conducted by ConAgra Trade Group. The operations were sold to an investor group led by Ospraie Special Opportunities Fund, which group also includes global growth investor General Atlantic LLC and a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC. Willkie advised Soros in the transaction. The sold businesses will now operate as The Gavilon Group, LLC. ConAgra Foods is a packaged food company with numerous well known brands including Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's and PAM. The deal was handled by partners Serge Benchetrit, Mark Cognetti, Rita Molesworth and Richard Reinhold, and associates Gerald Brant, Christian Ercole, Amanda Granacher and Andrew Mariniello.
