Utz Acquisition by Intersnack Takes Company Private

Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) agreed on July 21, 2026, to be acquired by Germany’s Intersnack Group in a deal that will take the snacks maker private. The transaction will leave Utz jointly owned by Intersnack and the founding Rice and Lissette families.

Deal Terms and Ownership

The company said in a press release that it signed a definitive merger agreement under which Intersnack will acquire all outstanding Class A common stock for $14.25 per share in cash. The transaction values Utz at about $2.9 billion on an enterprise-value basis including debt, representing roughly a 91% premium to Utz’s closing price on July 20, 2026.

Following the closing, Intersnack and entities affiliated with the Rice and Lissette families will each own 50% of Utz. Dylan Lissette is expected to become executive chair, and Utz common stock will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. The press release described Utz as a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and Intersnack as a leading multinational savory snack company. The companies said the transaction will expand Intersnack’s presence in North America while maintaining the founding family’s involvement.

For Utz shareholders, the all-cash deal offers a defined cash outcome at the offer price and ends the company’s public reporting obligations. The ownership split and Lissette’s expected leadership role signal continuity of family influence alongside a partnership with a major global snack group.

Approvals and Closing

The companies said the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions including shareholder approvals and regulatory clearances. The merger agreement requires approval by holders of a majority of Utz’s outstanding common stock and includes a majority-of-the-minority condition. The timing depends on those votes and regulatory signoffs.

Once approvals and regulatory reviews are complete, the offer price will be paid in cash, and Utz’s common shares will be removed from the NYSE, ending public trading. Management and shareholders will transition from a public-company reporting schedule to a privately held ownership structure split between Intersnack and the Rice/Lissette family entities.

The companies framed the deal as a strategic move to strengthen Intersnack’s North American footprint while preserving the founding family’s engagement in the business.