Divestitures

On July 28, 2019, the Company completed its sale of selected cookies, fruit and fruitflavored snacks, pie crusts, and ice cream cones businesses to Ferrero International S.A. (“Ferrero”) for approximately $1.3 billion in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment mechanism. Both the total assets and net assets of the businesses were approximately $1.3 billion, resulting in a net pre-tax gain of $38 million during the year ended December 28, 2019, recorded in OIE, after including related costs to sell of $14 million. Additionally, the Company recognized curtailment gains related to the divestiture totaling $17 million in our U.S. pension and nonpension postretirement plans. During 2020 the working capital adjustment was finalized, resulting in a reduction of the sale proceeds and recognition of a pre-tax expense in OIE of $4 million. The operating results for these businesses were primarily included in the North America reporting segment prior to the sale. In connection with the sale, the Company entered into a transition services agreement (TSA) with Ferrero, under which the Company will provide certain services to Ferrero to help facilitate an orderly transition of the businesses following the sale. In return for these services, Ferrero is required to pay certain agreed upon fees that are designed to reimburse the Company for certain costs incurred by the Company in providing such services, plus specified immaterial margins. The TSA was completed in the first quarter of 2021.

Proceeds from the divestiture were used primarily to redeem $1.0 billion of debt during the third quarter of 2019. Additionally, the Company paid approximately $255 million of cash taxes on the divestiture in the fourth quarter of 2019.