Page 8 - FMT Magazine, September 2020

News

Harris Williams Advises Universal
Corporation on its Pending Acquisition

of Silva International

ichmond, Virginia, September 8, partnership between Universal and
R2020 – Harris Williams, a global Silva, which will be a highly strategic
investment bank specializing in combination based on the global
M&A advisory services, announces sourcing models of both businesses.”
that it is advising Universal
Corporation (NYSE: UVV; Universal) “Universal’s acquisition of Silva
on its pending acquisition of Silva is complementary to its recent
International (Silva). Universal acquisition of FruitSmart, which
sources, processes and supplies was completed earlier this year,” through critical milestones and
agri-products and is the leading said Andy Warczak, a vice president provides thoughtful advice during
global leaf tobacco supplier. The at Harris Williams. “Universal is the lives of their businesses. By
transaction is being led by Tim building a leading plant-based collaborating as one fi rm across
Alexander, Andy Warczak and Ryan food ingredients platform that is Industry Groups and geographies,

Ghazaeri of the Harris Williams well positioned for growth given the firm helps its clients achieve
Consumer Group. underlying food and beverage trends outcomes that support their
and increasing consumer preference objectives and strategically
“This transaction builds on the for clean-label and plant-based create value. Harris Williams is
momentum of Universal’s expansion alternatives.” committed to execution excellence
into food ingredients, a space that and to building enduring, valued
continues to exhibit robust growth,” Harris Williams, an investment relationships that are based on
said Tim Alexander, a managing bank specializing in M&A advisory mutual trust. Harris Williams is a
director at Harris Williams. “We’re services, advocates for sellers and subsidiary of the PNC Financial
excited to have facilitated the buyers of companies worldwide Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

LANXESS CEO Zachert:
“We are more strongly positioned than ever before.”

ologne, At its Annual Stockholders’ divest itself of the rubber business,
CMeeting, specialty chemicals proved successful. Since then, the
company LANXESS looks back on a company has consistently pursued

successful fiscal 2019 and is proving its growth course in line with the
to be robust even in the current corona principle of “class not mass” and has
crisis. “I am proud that we at LANXESS positioned itself much more profi table
have held together in recent months. and stable. The EBITDA margin pre
In a borderline situation, the likes exceptionals came in at 15.0 percent
of which none of us have ever seen for the first time, compared with

before, we have all pulled together,” said 14.4 percent in the previous year.
Matthias Zachert, LANXESS Chairman The company has also set itself an
of the Board of Management. ambitious climate protection target
for 2019: By 2040, LANXESS aims to
In fi scal 2019, the company’s become climate-neutral and reduce
realignment to focus on high-quality its greenhouse gas emissions from
specialty chemicals, which LANXESS the current level of around 3.2 million
initiated in 2015 with its decision to metric tons of CO2e.

Food Marketing & Technology 8 September 2020