Hillshire backs away from Pinnacle Foods offer

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hillshire Brands Co. is backing off its offer to buy Pinnacle Foods Inc., a move that it needs to make for its $7.75 billion proposed deal with Tyson Foods to go through.

Tyson won a bidding war with Pilgrim’s Pride earlier this month to buy Hillshire, maker of Jimmy Dean sausages and Ball Park hot dogs. The final offer from Tyson Foods Inc. ended up at $63 per share, but it was contingent on Hillshire not going through with its bid for Pinnacle Foods, which makes Birds Eye frozen vegetables.

Hillshire said Monday that its board unanimously decided to withdraw its recommendation for the Pinnacle Foods transaction and considers the Tyson takeover offer a superior proposal. Pinnacle Foods may be entitled to a termination fee of up to $163 million.