28 acquisitions in September/​October

The biggest was Suntory’s €2.6bn deal to buy Orangina Schweppes. The other main story was Anheuser-​Busch InBev’s disposal of its central European operations to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for $2.2–3.0bn.

26 countries were involved, with France being the most active. 14 were single country affairs.

September 2009

• Cheese – New Zealand’s Kaimai buys Te Mata.
• Wine – KWV from South Africa buys outstanding 50% of Golden Kaan brand from Racke of Germany.
• Soft drinks – US Coca-​Cola buys less than 20% of Zico coconut water producer for $15m.
• Soft drinks – SABMiller from UK to buy Maheu non-​alcoholic maize drink in Zambia from Trade Kings for $19m.
• Dairy – China’s Heilongjiang Wondersun Dairy to buy farms and processing plants from Synutra for $29m.
• Fruit juice – France’s La Martiniquaise buys Caraïbos.
• Beer – Carlsberg from Denmark to increase stake from 16% to 30% in Habeco of Vietnam.
• Fruit juice – Serbia’s Knjaz Milos, part of Danube Foods Group, buys Moc Prirode juice brand from Agroeconomik.
• Soft drinks – Russia’s Decka to buy Stepan Timofeyevich kvas brand from Heineken of Netherlands.
• Soft drinks – Suntory from Japan to buy Orangina Schweppes in France from Blackstone and Lion Capital private equity firms (€2.6bn).
• Soft drinks – US Pepsi Bottling Group and Catterton Partners make equity investment in One coconut water producer.
• Dairy – Andros from France to buy Cantabria dairy plant from Leche Pascual of Spain.
• Bottled water – Advent International private equity firm from Luxembourg to buy 75% of Devin in Bulgaria from Soravia property company of Austria (€28m).
• Spirits – Poland’s CEDC buys Parliament Vodka.
• Wine – France’s Boisset buys Antonin Rodet from Sequana.
• Dairy – Agropur from Canada buys Michigan operations of Farmland Dairies in US.
• Dairy – Lala from Mexico to buy Farmland Dairies and Promised Land of US.
• Soft drinks – Japan’s Sapporo to buy 22% of Pokka from Advantage Partners and other investors for $111m.
• Wine – Australia’s Oatley Wines to buy Cumbandry Vineyard from Foster’s.
• Bottled water – Wahaha from China to buy out remaining 51% of joint venture with Danone of France.
• Dairy – Netherlands’ DeltaMilk to buy Bleskensgraaf cheese plant from FrieslandCampina.
• Dairy – France’s Alsace Lait buys Savoie Yaourt (€15m sales).

Octover 2009

• Soft drinks – Germany’s Radeberger, part of Oetker group, buys 51% of Bionade from Egon Schindel (€20m est).
• Ingredients – Dairygold from Ireland to buy Solailoire of France.
• Beer – CVC Capital Partners private equity firm from UK to buy central European operations of Anheuser-​Busch InBev from Belgium ($2.2–3.0bn).
• Soft drinks – France’s Laiterie de Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel buys L’Abeille from Duke Street Capital (€40m sales).
• Coffee – Slap from Canada to buy coffee processor in China.
• Sugar – Savola from Saudi Arabia to buy outstanding minority stakes in Egyptian and Saudi sugar units of Tate & Lyle from UK ($64m).

Source: BevBlog

About the author

Richard Hall is chairman of Zenith International.

Also by this author

• Feeding the world – comment
• Feeding the world – 2
• Feeding the world
• 50 acquisitions in January
• Are we actually eating our 5-​a-​day in fruit and veg?

See also

Latest news

• World’s largest collection of liquors to be sold for $8m
• Lindsay Goldberg is new shareholder of Weener Plastik
• Mary J Blige joins forces with Belvedere Vodka
• Coca-​Cola reports strong year
• Advocacy group warns healthy labelling is ‘not fool-​proof’