USA: Nabisco agrees to sell breath freshening mints and gum to Hershey

Nabisco, Inc. confirmed today that it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Nabisco's breath freshening mints (Breath Savers, Ice Breakers, and Cool Blasts) and gum businesses to Hershey Foods Corporation. Closing of this transaction is conditioned on completion of the acquisition of Nabisco Holdings Corp. by Philip Morris Companies Inc., and is subject to approval by the Federal Trade Commission and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition of Nabisco Holdings by Philip Morris remains under review by the FTC. As previously indicated, Nabisco and Philip Morris currently expect to close the transaction by year-end. Nabisco is a major international manufacturer of biscuits, snacks and premium grocery products, including such well-known U.S. brands as Oreo, SnackWell's, and Chips Ahoy cookies; Ritz crackers; A.1. steak sauces; Grey Poupon mustards; Life Savers confections; and Planters nuts and snacks. International products include Christie, Peek Freans, Terrabusi cookies and crackers; Yemina pastas; Royal dessert mixes; Fleischmann's yeast and several global brands--Oreo, Ritz and Chips Ahoy! Nabisco markets products in the United States and more than 85 other countries around the world.