SOURCE:
KANSAS CITY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Thursday, April 13, 2006
S&M NuTec agrees to sell to candy bar giant
Kansas City Business Journal
S&M NuTec LLC, maker of the popular Greenies breath-freshening dog treats, has agreed to sell to Mars Inc. The sale comes at a time when S&M NuTec is the subject of lawsuits alleging that Greenies have killed some pets.
Chris Brandt, general counsel of North Kansas City-based S&M NuTec, confirmed Thursday morning that the companies have signed an agreement for the transaction. The deal is subject to standard regulatory approval, he said, and he had no estimate of when it will close.
The companies aren't disclosing the deal's financial terms.
S&M NuTech has 95 employees, Brandt said. The privately held company isn't disclosing its revenue, he said.
Mars, privately held and based in McLean, Va., has 39,000 employees and revenue of $18 billion, according to Hoovers.com. Although Mars is best-known as the maker of M&Ms and Snickers, the company also sells such pet lines as Pedigree and Whiskas.
Brandt wouldn't comment on whether S&M NuTec's recent legal woes involving Greenies played a part in its decision to sell. Company officials have said that the product is safe if used as directed.
Joe Roetheli started developing Greenies in 1996 to cure the family dog's bad breath.
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