(Reuters) — Tyson Foods Inc., the largest U.S. meat processor, offered to buy Hillshire Brands Co for $6.13 billion to expand into the fast-growing market for breakfast foods.
Tyson said it would offer $50 per share, representing a premium of about 11 percent to Hillshire’s closing on Wednesday.
The offer comes two days after Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. offered to buy Hillshire in an all-cash deal valued at $6.4 billion to expand its protein footprint with Hillshire’s sausages and lunch meats.
Hillshire also offered this month to buy Pinnacle Foods Inc., known for its Birds Eye frozen vegetables, in a $4.3 billion deal.
Tyson said on Thursday its offer for Hillshire would stand only if the Pinnacle deal was terminated.
Tyson said it had secured financing from Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc.
The company said it expected the proposed to deal to add to its earnings per share in the first year after completion.
