Mission Produce clears HSR step in Calavo merger

Mission Produce, Inc. reported that the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period for its previously announced merger with Calavo Growers expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 17, 2026, satisfying one closing condition.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Mission Produce, Inc. reported that the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period for its previously announced merger with Calavo Growers expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 17, 2026, satisfying one closing condition. The Mergers remain subject to stockholder approvals, Mexican antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect to close in the fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2026. Mission filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (declared effective March 20, 2026) and commenced mailing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus on or about March 25, 2026.

Insights

M&A Counsel

HSR clearance clears a major regulatory step; other approvals and votes remain.

The expiration of the HSR waiting period on April 17, 2026 removes a statutory antitrust timing barrier and satisfies a condition in the Merger Agreement. Remaining conditions include shareholder votes and clearance from Mexican antitrust authorities, which could impose conditions or delays.

Close timing is tied to those approvals; subsequent filings and the joint proxy/prospectus (effective March 20, 2026) will report updates. Cash‑flow and other post‑closing effects depend on final terms and any regulatory conditions.

Key Figures

HSR waiting period expiration: April 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Expected closing quarter: Fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2026 Form S-4 declared effective: March 20, 2026 +1 more

4 metrics

HSR waiting period expiration April 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Expiration of HSR Act waiting period

Expected closing quarter Fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2026 Parties expect to consummate the Mergers subject to conditions

Form S-4 declared effective March 20, 2026 Registration Statement on Form S-4 declared effective

Mailing of joint proxy/prospectus On or about March 25, 2026 Commencement of mailing to stockholders and shareholders

Key Terms

Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, Form S-4, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus

3 terms

Hart-Scott-Rodino Act regulatory

"the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act"

A U.S. antitrust law that requires parties to large mergers and acquisitions to notify federal regulators and wait a set period before closing the deal, so authorities can check whether the transaction would unfairly reduce competition. For investors, the process is like notifying a referee before a major team trade: it can reveal objections, trigger investigations, delay or block a deal, and therefore affect transaction timing, value and deal risk.

Form S-4 regulatory

"filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended)"

A Form S-4 is a legal document that companies file with the government to announce and explain a major business move, such as a merger or acquisition. It provides detailed information to help investors understand how the deal might affect the company's value and future prospects, similar to a detailed blueprint that clarifies the impact of a significant change.

Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus corporate

"the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus was mailed on or about March 25, 2026"

A joint proxy statement/prospectus is a single, combined document that both asks shareholders to vote on a proposed transaction and provides the detailed information required when new securities are being offered. Think of it as a combined ballot and product brochure that explains the deal, the companies’ finances, key risks and how ownership will change. Investors rely on it to understand the terms, evaluate risks and make informed voting and investment decisions.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Has Mission Produce (CVGW) cleared antitrust review for the Calavo merger?

Yes. The HSR waiting period expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 17, 2026, satisfying that U.S. timing condition. Additional approvals, including Mission Produce stockholder and Calavo shareholder votes and Mexican antitrust clearance, are still required.

When do Mission Produce and Calavo expect to close the merger?

They expect to consummate the Mergers in the fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2026. This timing is conditioned on satisfying remaining closing conditions, including shareholder approvals and Mexican regulatory clearance.

Where can I find the proxy and registration materials for the transaction?

The Form S-4 registration statement was declared effective on March 20, 2026, and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus began mailing on or about March 25, 2026. Materials are available on the SEC website and each company’s investor filings page.

Do Mission Produce stockholders need to vote on the merger?

Yes. The Merger Agreement requires approval by Mission Produce stockholders and Calavo shareholders. Voting materials were included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus mailed beginning on March 25, 2026.

Does HSR expiration guarantee the deal will close?

No. HSR expiration clears one statutory waiting period but does not guarantee closing. The transaction also requires shareholder approvals and Mexican antitrust clearance, plus satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 04/20/2026 - 09:00 AM EDT Learn about SEC filing dates

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

April 17, 2026

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

MISSION PRODUCE, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-39561		95-3847744
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2710 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard, CA				93030
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip code)

(805) 981-3650

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☒ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share		AVO		NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

As previously disclosed, on January 14, 2026, Mission Produce, Inc. (“Mission Produce”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Mission Produce, Calavo Growers, Inc. (“Calavo”), Cantaloupe Merger Sub I, Inc. (“Merger Sub I”) and Cantaloupe Merger Sub II, LLC (“Merger Sub II”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified therein, (i) Merger Sub I will merge with and into Calavo (the “First Merger”), with Calavo surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mission Produce (the “Surviving Corporation”), and (ii) immediately following the First Merger, and as the second step in a single integrated transaction with the First Merger, the Surviving Corporation will merge with and into Merger Sub II (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub II continuing as the surviving entity in the Second Merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mission Produce.

The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), in connection with the Mergers, expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on April 17, 2026. The expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to consummating the Mergers. The consummation of the Mergers remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including receipt of approval from Mission Produce stockholders and Calavo shareholders and approval from the Mexico antitrust authorities. Subject to satisfaction of these conditions, the parties expect to consummate the Mergers in the fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2026.

Important Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It

On March 9, 2026, Mission Produce filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which includes a prospectus with respect to the shares of Mission Produce’s common stock to be issued in the First Merger and a joint proxy statement for Mission Produce’s stockholders and Calavo’s shareholders. On March 18, 2026, Mission Produce filed Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement was declared effective on March 20, 2026, and Mission Produce filed a final prospectus on March 20, 2026, and Calavo filed a definitive proxy statement on March 20, 2026 (together, the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). Mission Produce commenced mailing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders and Calavo commenced mailing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its shareholders on or about March 25, 2026. Each of Mission Produce and Calavo may also file with or furnish to the SEC other relevant documents regarding the Mergers. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any other document that Mission Produce may mail to its stockholders or Calavo may mail to its shareholders in connection with the Mergers.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF MISSION PRODUCE AND CALAVO ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGERS OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO), BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MISSION PRODUCE, CALAVO, THE MERGERS AND RELATED MATTERS.

Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (if and when available) and other documents containing important information about Mission Produce, Calavo and the proposed transaction through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Mission Produce may be obtained free of charge on Mission Produce’s website at www.investors.missionproduce.com/financial-information/sec-filings or, alternatively, by directing a request by mail to Mission Produce’s Corporate Secretary at Attention: Corporate Secretary, Mission Produce, Inc., 2710 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard, CA 93030. Copies of the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Calavo may be obtained free of charge on Calavo’s website at www.ir.calavo.com/financial-information/sec-filings or, alternatively, by directing a request by mail to Calavo’s Corporate Secretary at Attention: Corporate Secretary, Calavo Growers, Inc., 1141A Cummings Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060.

Participants in the Solicitation

Mission Produce, Calavo and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in any solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Mission Produce’s directors and executive officers is available in Mission Produce’s Annual Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on February 24, 2026. Information about Calavo’s directors and executive officers is available in Calavo’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2025, as amended. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and all other relevant materials filed or to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions.

No Offer or Solicitation

This Current Report on Form 8-K is not intended to be, and shall not constitute, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains statements relating to future events and results of Mission Produce (including financial projections and business trends) that are “forward-looking statements,” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. These statements are based on our current expectations and are not promises or guarantees. If any of the risks or uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Mission Produce may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. We refer to Mission Produce, Inc. as “Mission Produce,” “we,” “our” and “us.” The use of words such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” and “believes,” among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about trends in sales and volume growth of tomatoes, avocados and guacamole products in the United States and international markets; the success and likelihood of obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction; the success and profitability of certain branded products; the seasonality of certain retail and foodservice opportunities; the benefits of the proposed transaction involving Mission Produce and Calavo, including future financial and operating results, Mission Produce’s and Calavo’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of restructuring and integration (including information technology systems integration) plans; any statements regarding current or future macroeconomic trends or events and the impact of those trends and events on Mission Produce and its financial performance; statements regarding pending internal or external investigations, legal claims or tax disputes; statements regarding our cybersecurity risk management and planned enhancements to controls and documentation; statements regarding working capital and liquidity, including the timing and magnitude of tariff prepayments and the timing of value added tax (“IVA”) refund collections in Mexico; statements regarding the timing and outcomes of legal and tax proceedings in Mexico, including the recovery of IVA receivables and the resolution of assessments by the Mexican Tax Administrative Service (“SAT”); statements regarding potential changes in Mexico’s tax policies or enforcement actions and the expected effects on our operations, costs, tax positions or liquidity; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements about future risks associated with doing business internationally (including possible restrictive U.S. and foreign governmental actions, such as restrictions on transfers of funds, restrictions as a result of trade protection measures such as import/export/customs duties, tariffs and/or quotas).

Risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability to obtain the requisite approval by Mission Produce stockholders or Calavo shareholders; the risk that Mission Produce or Calavo may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction); the risk that an event, change or other circumstance could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied; the risk of delays in completing the proposed transaction; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that the integration will be more costly or difficult than expected; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the proposed transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that any announcement relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Mission Produce’s or Calavo’s common stock; the risk of litigation related to the proposed transaction; the risk that the credit ratings of the combined company or its subsidiaries may be different from what the companies expect; the diversion of management time from ongoing business operations and opportunities as a result of the proposed transaction; the risk of adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; adverse economic conditions; reductions in spending from Mission Produce or Calavo clients, a slowdown in payments by such clients; risks related to each company’s ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients; changes in client advertising, marketing, and corporate communications requirements; failure to manage potential conflicts of interest between or among clients of each company; the ability of our management team to work together successfully; the impact of weather on market conditions; seasonality of our business; sensitivity of our business to changes in market prices of avocados and other agricultural products and other raw materials including fuel, packaging and paper; changes or actions associated with USDA-APHIS and the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) phytosanitary regulations (certification regulation for the importation of Hass avocados to the United States); potential disruptions to our supply chain; risks associated with potential future acquisitions, including integration; potential exposure to data breaches and other cyber-attacks on our systems or those of our suppliers or customers; dependence on large customers; dependence on key personnel and access to labor necessary for us to render services; susceptibility to wage inflation; potential for labor disputes; reliance on co-packers for a portion of our production needs; competitive pressures, including from foreign growers; risks of recalls and food-related injuries to our customers; changing consumer preferences; the impact of environmental regulations, including those related to climate change; risks associated with the environment and climate change, especially as they may affect our sources of supply; our ability to develop and transition new products and services and enhance existing products and services to meet customer needs, including but not limited to new guacamole products; risks associated with doing business internationally (including possible non-compliance with U.S. and foreign laws applicable to international trade and dealings and possible restrictive U.S. and foreign governmental actions, such as restrictions on transfers of funds and trade protection measures such as import/export/customs duties, tariffs and/or quotas and currency fluctuations); risks associated with receivables from, loans to and/or equity investments in unconsolidated entities; volatility in the value of our common stock; the impact of macroeconomic trends and events; the effects of increased interest rates on our cost of borrowing and consumer purchasing behavior; the resolution of pending internal and external investigations, legal claims and tax disputes, including an assessment imposed by the SAT and our defenses against collection activities commenced by SAT; our ability to realize the expected expense savings from the sale of the Fresh Cut business; and risks related to enhanced regulatory scrutiny or inspection protocols, including detention holds by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which can result in shipment delays, third-party testing requirements, incremental logistics and handling costs, and inventory write-downs, and which could in the future result in additional delays, costs, loss of product value, or disruption to customer orders.

For further discussion of these risks and uncertainties and other risks and uncertainties that we face, please see the risk factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and any subsequent updates that may be contained in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K are made only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

				Mission Produce, Inc.
April 18, 2026
				By:		/s/ John Pawlowski
				Name:		John Pawlowski
				Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer