Utz Brands (UTZ) Stock: Chip Maker Soars 89% After $2.9 Billion Buyout Deal

TLDR

• Utz Brands agreed to be acquired by Germany’s Intersnack Group for $14.25 per Class A common stock in cash.
• The deal values Utz at roughly $2.9 billion, a 91% premium over Monday’s closing price.
• UTZ stock jumped almost 89% on Tuesday following the announcement.
• Ownership will split 50-50 between Intersnack and the Rice and Lissette family entities once the deal closes.
• Utz will delist from the NYSE and skip its Q2 earnings call, with the deal expected to close in Q4 2026.

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Utz Brands (UTZ) is being taken private. Intersnack Group, the German snack maker, will pay $14.25 per Class A common stock in cash.

Intersnack to acquire $UTZ Brands for $14.25 per share in cash, valuing the snack maker at roughly $2.9B

After the deal, Intersnack and the Rice-Lissette family will each own 50% of Utz, which will be taken private and delisted from the NYSE.

The transaction is expected to… pic.twitter.com/g4gN6SJ9Kt

— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 21, 2026

The offer values Utz at about $2.9 billion, including debt. That’s a roughly 91% premium over Monday’s closing price.

UTZ stock reacted fast to the news. The stock jumped almost 89% on Tuesday, trading near $14.06.

Utz Brands, Inc., UTZ

The deal was announced on July 21, 2026. Both companies described it as a partnership built on shared family heritage.

Utz CEO Howard Friedman said Intersnack’s marketing, manufacturing and technology capabilities will help the brand grow. He framed the sale as a way to keep investing in Utz’s portfolio.

Dylan Lissette, chairperson of Utz’s board, echoed that view. He called Intersnack a like-minded partner with a deep appreciation for beloved brands.

Who’s Behind the Deal

The Rice and Lissette family has run Utz for generations. After the deal closes, they’ll own half the company alongside Intersnack.

Dylan Lissette will become Executive Chair of Utz once the transaction wraps up. The family and certain affiliates have already committed about 42% of Utz’s voting stock in favor of the deal.

Intersnack is no small player either. Founded in Germany in 1968, it now runs operations in 31 countries with about 14,500 employees and roughly $5 billion in 2025 sales.

For Intersnack, this is its first foothold in the U.S. snack market. Executive Chairman Johan van Winkel called it a chance to expand where the company had no prior presence.

How the Deal Gets Paid For

Intersnack plans to fund the purchase with about $920 million in cash. The rest comes from a new $1.1 billion term loan and a $250 million asset-based lending facility.

The Rice and Lissette family will roll over some of their equity and reinvest in the newly private company. That structure keeps the founding family financially tied to Utz’s future.

Utz’s board and a special committee of independent directors unanimously approved the agreement. Stockholder and regulatory approval are still needed before the deal closes.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Once it does, Utz’s common stock will no longer trade on the NYSE.

Utz also confirmed it will skip its usual second-quarter earnings call. That’s a direct result of the pending buyout.

Utz makes snacks under brands including Utz, On The Border Chips & Dips, Zapp’s and Boulder Canyon. The company is based in Hanover, Pennsylvania and distributes nationwide across grocery, mass merchandise and convenience channels.