One of the nation’s best-known tuna brands has filed for bankruptcy. San Diego-based Bumble Bee Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware Thursday and announced it has agreed to sell the company’s assets to Taiwan-based FCF Co. Ltd. for $925 million.
“It’s been a challenging time for our company but today’s actions allow us to move forward with minimal disruption to our day-to-day operations,” Jan Tharp, Bumble Bee president and CEO, said in a news release. “We have an experienced leadership team in place and plan to transform our business in bold and innovative ways that will build a legacy worthy of our proud 120-year-old history.”
The company said it has “received new financing commitments from its existing lenders that will provide sufficient liquidity” to fund the business through the closing of the sale, which could happen within 60 to 90 days.
The bankruptcy comes more than two years after the company plead guilty to conspiring to fix the cost of canned and pouch tuna. The company agreed to pay a $25 million criminal fine over five years as part of a plea agreement with the Department of Justice. According to court records, $17 million of the fine remains outstanding and the company is facing other legal expenses.
The company sells canned and pouched tuna, salmon, sardines, and specialty seafood products under the Bumble Bee, Brunswick, Sweet Sue, Snow’s, Beach Cliff and Wild Selections brands.
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