Chiquita banana

The Cutrale and Safra Groups have today (6 January) announced the completion of the tender offer by its affiliate, Cavendish Acquisition Corporation, to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Chiquita Brands International.

The deal has been completed at a price of US$14.50 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes.

Computershare Trust Company, the depositary for the tender offer, has advised that as of midnight, New York City time, at the end of 5 January, some 39,791,364 shares of Chiquita common stock had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the tender offer, representing approximately 84.46 per cent of the outstanding shares of Chiquita common stock.

In addition, the depositary for the tender offer has advised that Notice of Guaranteed Delivery were delivered for 1,748,335 shares of Chiquita common stock, representing approximately 3.71 per cent of the outstanding shares of Chiquita common stock.

'All conditions to the tender offer have been satisfied,' the groups noted. 'Accordingly, Cutrale-Safra, through Cavendish Acquisition Corporation, has accepted for payment and will promptly pay for shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn.'