DLA Piper advises Whole Earth Brands in its business combination with Sweet Oak Parent

DLA Piper advised Whole Earth Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: FREE) (the “Company”), a global food company enabling healthier lifestyles through premium plant-based sweeteners, flavor enhancers and other foods, in entering into a definitive agreement to combine with Ozark Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Sababa Holdings FREE. 

Ozark Holdings, LLC will acquire all outstanding shares of the Company that it and its affiliates do not already own in an all-cash transaction for US$4.875 per share. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.

“Our deal team was pleased to bring to bear our extensive M&A capabilities in advising Whole Earth Brands on this critical business combination,” said Christopher Giordano, chair of DLA Piper’s US M&A group and the partner who led the deal team. 

In addition to Giordano (New York), the DLA Piper team included, among others, partners Jon Venick and Rita Patel (Washington, DC) and associates Michael Slovak (Miami) and Mary Claire Blythe (Baltimore).

With more than 1,000 corporate lawyers globally, DLA Piper helps clients execute complex cross-border transactions seamlessly while supporting clients across all stages of development. The firm has been rated number one in global M&A volume for 14 consecutive years, according to Mergermarket.