Germany's Intersnack acquires US snacks maker Utz Brands for $2.9B
German snacks company Intersnack Group has agreed to acquire US-based Utz Brands in a $2.9 billion all-cash deal, taking the 105-year-old salty snacks maker private. Utz shareholders will receive $14.25 per share, a 91% premium. The founding Rice and Lissette families will retain a 50% stake, with Intersnack holding the remainder. The deal, expected to close in Q4 2026 pending approvals, gives Intersnack a foothold in the US market while potentially expanding Utz internationally.
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Utz Brands Surges on $2.9 Billion Take-Private Deal; Investor Lesson Highlighted
On July 21, 2026, Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ) shares surged 88.72% to close at $14.06 after announcing a definitive agreement to be taken private by Germany's Intersnack Group in a $2.9 billion all-cash deal. The buyout price of $14.25 per share represented a 91% premium over the previous closing price. Trading volume exploded to 60.6 million shares, roughly 2,000% above the three-month average. The article notes that while it may be too late for investors to profit directly from this buyout, the event offers a lesson: astute investors could have identified the buying opportunity when Utz's dividend yield bounced to over 3% as the share price declined earlier in the year. The broader market also performed positively, with the S&P 500 up 0.89% and Nasdaq up 1.29%. The article includes a promotional segment for Motley Fool's Stock Advisor service.
UTZ Stock Surges on $2.9 Billion Take-Private Deal by Germany's Intersnack
UTZ Brands (UTZ) shares nearly doubled on July 21, 2026, after Germany's Intersnack Group announced a $2.9 billion deal to take the salty snacks company private. Under the agreement, Intersnack will acquire all outstanding UTZ shares at $14.25 each, a 91% premium over the previous close. The deal is structured as a 50-50 joint partnership with UTZ's founding Rice and Lissette family, who have committed their 42% voting stake in support. The acquisition gives Intersnack a major foothold in the U.S. packaged foods market, adding brands like Zapp's and On The Border. Analysts warn that further upside is minimal, as the stock trades near the buyout price, and a superior bid is unlikely given the founding family's commitment. The deal is expected to close in the final quarter of 2026, after which UTZ will delist from the NYSE.
Utz Brands Surges 89% on $2.9 Billion Takeover by Intersnack Group
Utz Brands Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) shares skyrocketed up to 89% in intraday trading on July 21, 2026, following the announcement of a definitive merger agreement with Germany-based Intersnack Group valued at $2.9 billion. Under the deal, Utz shareholders will receive $14.25 per share, a 91% premium over the previous close of $7.45. Upon closing, expected in Q4 2026, Utz will become a private entity jointly owned by Intersnack and the founding Rice and Lissette families, who have agreed to vote in favor with their 42% stake. Chairman Dylan Lissette will become Executive Chairman post-transaction. The company canceled its Q2 earnings call scheduled for August 5, 2026. Utz reported a net loss of $2.4 million in Q1 2026, compared to a $5.7 million profit a year earlier. Hedge fund holdings in Utz declined to 27 funds from 31 in the prior quarter, with total holdings falling 7% to $133.97 million.
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Utz Brands to be acquired by Intersnack Group in $2.9B transaction
Utz Brands (NYSE: UTZ) has agreed to be acquired by Germany-based Intersnack Group in a deal valued at approximately $2.9 billion, including debt. The transaction will take the US salty snack manufacturer private and expand Intersnack's presence in the North American market. Intersnack will acquire all outstanding shares of Utz Class A common stock for $14.25 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 91% to Utz's July 20 closing price. Following completion, Utz will become privately held, with the Rice and Lissette family entities and Intersnack each owning a 50% stake. The acquisition will be financed through approximately $920 million in cash from Intersnack, borrowings under a new $1.1 billion term loan facility, a new $250 million asset-based lending facility, rollover equity from the Rice and Lissette family, and a reinvestment of proceeds from a $44 million settlement of Utz's tax receivable agreement. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Dylan Lissette will assume the role of executive chair of Utz, and the company will continue its commitment to the Hanover, Pennsylvania community.
Utz Brands to be acquired by Intersnack Group in $2.9B transaction
Utz Brands (NYSE: UTZ) has agreed to be acquired by Germany-based Intersnack Group in a deal valued at approximately $2.9 billion, including debt. Intersnack will acquire all outstanding shares of Utz Class A common stock for $14.25 per share in cash, representing a premium of about 91% to Utz's July 20 closing price. Shares surged nearly 90% on the news. Following the transaction, Utz will become privately held, with the Rice and Lissette family entities and Intersnack each owning a 50% stake. The acquisition expands Intersnack's presence into the US snacking market, where it currently has no operations. Financing includes $920 million in cash from Intersnack, a new $1.1 billion term loan facility, a $250 million asset-based lending facility, rollover equity from the Rice and Lissette family, and proceeds from a $44 million tax receivable agreement settlement. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026. Dylan Lissette will become executive chair of Utz, and the company will maintain its commitment to Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Germany's Intersnack to take US peer Utz private in $2.9bn deal
Germany's Intersnack Group has agreed to acquire US snacks maker Utz Brands in a deal valuing the company at approximately $2.9 billion. The transaction, announced on July 21, 2026, offers Utz shareholders $14.25 per share, a 91% premium over the previous day's closing price. Under the agreement, Utz's founding families (Rice and Lissette) will retain a 50% stake, with Intersnack holding the remainder. Intersnack, a family-owned firm with $5 billion in annual sales and operations in 31 countries, sees this as a strategic entry into the US market. The deal will be funded through $920 million in cash, a $1.1 billion loan facility, and a $250 million asset-based lending package. Utz, which owns brands like Boulder Canyon, Zapp's, and On the Border, reported a net loss of $7.7 million in 2025 despite 2.1% sales growth to $1.44 billion. The acquisition is expected to close in Q4 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Utz Brands to go private in $2.9 billion acquisition by Intersnack Group
Utz Brands Inc. (NYSE:UTZ) has agreed to be acquired by Germany's Intersnack Group in a transaction valued at approximately $2.9 billion, including debt. Under the all-cash deal announced on July 21, 2026, Intersnack will acquire all outstanding Class A common shares for $14.25 per share, representing a 91% premium to Utz's closing price. Upon completion, Utz will become a privately held company jointly owned by Intersnack Group and the Rice and Lissette Family Entities, each holding a 50% stake. The acquisition will be funded through $920 million in cash from Intersnack, a $1.1 billion term loan, a $250 million asset-based lending facility, and rollover equity from the Rice and Lissette Family. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Following completion, Dylan Lissette will become Executive Chair, and Utz shares will be delisted from the NYSE.
Germany's Intersnack to acquire US snacks maker Utz Brands in $2.9 billion deal
Germany's Intersnack Group has agreed to acquire US snacks maker Utz Brands in a deal valuing the company at approximately $2.9 billion. The transaction, announced on July 21, 2026, offers Utz shareholders $14.25 per share, a 91% premium over the closing price on July 20. Utz will be taken private, with founding families (Rice and Lissette) retaining 50% ownership and Intersnack holding the remainder. Intersnack, a family-owned business with $5 billion in annual sales and operations in 31 countries, sees this as an entry into the US market. The deal will be funded through $920 million in cash, a $1.1 billion loan facility, and $250 million in asset-based lending. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Utz reported a net loss of $7.7 million in 2025 on sales of $1.44 billion.
Snacks maker Utz Brands sold for $2.9B in go-private deal
Utz Brands, the 105-year-old US salty snacks maker, has agreed to be acquired by German snacks company Intersnack Group in a go-private deal valued at approximately $2.9 billion. Under the terms, each outstanding Utz share will be exchanged for $14.25 in cash. After the transaction closes, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 subject to regulatory approval, Utz will become a private company jointly owned by Intersnack and the Rice and Lissette Family Entities (descendants of Utz's founding family), each holding 50%. Former Utz CEO Dylan Lissette will return as executive chair. The deal gives Intersnack a foothold in the large US snacking market, while potentially enabling Utz to expand internationally. Utz, which owns brands including On the Border, Boulder Canyon, and Zapp's, generated roughly $1.4 billion in sales. Intersnack, with 30 brands, had sales of about $5 billion in 2025.