Diamond Foods pringles acquisition pushed back to next year due to accounting questions

Diamond Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) today announced that its previously announced acquisition of the Pringles snack business from The Procter &Gamble Company ("P&G") is now expected to close in the first half of calendar 2012. Diamond and P&G had previously expected the closing to occur in December of 2011.

Diamond and P&G have revised the expected closing date of the acquisition following the receipt by the Chairman of the Audit Committee of Diamond's Board of Directors of an external communication regarding Diamond's accounting for certain crop payments to walnut growers. In response to the communication, Diamond's Audit Committee decided to perform an investigation of this matter. Management is fully committed to supporting the Audit Committee in this process.

Closing of the Pringles transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and completion of an exchange offer by P&G. Antitrust approvals required for the transaction have already been obtained.

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