Swiss chocolate maker Lindt agrees to buy Russell Stover

ZURICH, July 14 (Reuters) :  Swiss chocolate maker Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli said it had agreed to acquire family-owned US candy business Russell Stover, making it the no 3 chocolate manufacturer in North America.

The Swiss company did not disclose financial details of the transaction, which is expected to help the group exceed sales of $1.5 billion in North America in 2015.

"This biggest and most important strategic acquisition to date in Lindt & Spruengli's history is a unique opportunity for us to expand our North American chocolate business," Lindt Chairman and Chief Executive Ernst Tanner said in a statement.