Kraft Foods Inc told employees it would use fiscal restraint in its pursuit of British confectioner Cadbury, and said its success as a company was not dependent on doing a deal.
Large Cadbury investors are worried Chief Executive Todd Stitzer may overplay his hand in fending off Kraft's $10 billion offer, with no white knight in sight to spark a bidding war.
Britain's takeover watchdog is reviewing private comments by Cadbury Plc's chief about the company's valuation amid a potential takeover by Kraft Foods Inc, saying Todd Stitzer had stoked uncertainty in the market, the Financial Times reported.
Cadbury Plc Chief Executive Officer Todd Stitzer detailed potential benefits from a takeover by Kraft Foods Inc and discussed valuations with investors in comments that could set the stage for talks between the British confectioner and the world's No. 2 food company.
Cadbury Chief Executive Todd Stitzer noted that past deals in the industry have been agreed at higher multiples than that implied by the offer from Kraft, according to a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch note obtained by Reuters.
Kraft and Cadbury CEOs are meeting their investors to seek support in a bid battle after the British confectioner asked the UK Takeover Panel to set a time limit to Kraft's 9.8 billion pound ($16 billion) offer.
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The head of chocolate maker Cadbury PLC, which is facing a possible takeover by U.S. food giant Kraft Foods Inc, said there were some complementary elements in the two companies' portfolios, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Kerry Group sees Kraft Foods Inc's bid for Britain's Cadbury as the potential start of a wider consolidation wave with rich pickings for the Irish food group, its chief executive said on Saturday.
U.S. food giant Kraft could raise its bid 20 percent up to 12.3 billion pounds ($20.1 billion) to seal a takeover deal for Britain's Cadbury without losing a key investment grade rating on its debt.
Warren Buffett is probably not trying to be Warren Wonka, but the Oracle of Omaha is certainly in a position to influence the struggle for control of the global chocolate industry.
Earlier this year, Irene Rosenfeld left no doubt as to what she would do with Kraft employees who stubbornly resisted a new set of values at the company.
The trust that holds voting control of candy maker Hershey Co has hired Warren Buffett's favorite banker to advise it on a possible bid for British chocolatier Cadbury, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
Three of London's top rainmakers are set to square up against a superstar of the 1980s merger era if the looming takeover battle between Kraft and Cadbury ignites.
Kraft Foods Inc does not need to sell operations like Oscar Mayer hot dogs, Maxwell House coffee or any of its other brands to afford its $16 billion bid for British confectioner Cadbury , Kraft said on Tuesday.
(Corrects Carr's first name to Roger in 5th paragraph)