Opinion

25 acquisitions you may have missed

Richard Hall7 Mar 2009

Popular myth would have it that acquisitions activity must be slowing down in the new economic climate. Yet, I find new announcements almost every day, many gaining very little coverage and some of real significance.

Often, they involve companies stretching out into new geographies or market sectors in very enterprising ways. Here’s a selection I have noted in the past three months. The Japanese seem particularly active …

February 2009

  • Water – Coca-​Cola and Coca-​Cola Femsa buy Agua Brisa from SABMiller in Colombia for $92m.
  • Beer – SABMiller and China Resources to buy three breweries in China.
  • Water – UAE Jeema buys Aquafina plant.
  • Beer – Kirin from Japan buys 43% of San Miguel in Philippines.
  • Food – Otsuka from Japan to buy Nardobel in France.

January 2009

  • Spirits – Access from US to buy 50% of Diamond Wodka in Benelux.
  • Beer – SABMiller buys 71% of Bere Azuga in Romania; $25m assets.
  • Dairy – Japan’s Snow Brand to merge with Nippon Milk; $5.7bn combined sales.
  • Beer – Asahi from Japan buys 20% of Tsingtao in China from Anheuser-​Busch in US for $666m.
  • Water – UK Lomond Hills buys Nestlé Waters Powwow.
  • Ingredients – Danisco from Denmark buys stake in GraceLinc of New Zealand.
  • Dairy – Germany’s Uckermarker buys plant from FrieslandCampina.
  • Dairy – Emmi from Switzerland buys Roth Kase in US; estimated $45m.
  • Nutrition – Otsuka from Japan to buy Nutrition & Santé in France; €260m sales.
  • Ingredients – Frutarom from Israel to buy Oxford Chemicals in UK for $12m.
  • Spirits – South Korea’s Lotte Chilsung buys spirits arm of Doosan for $386m.

December 2008

  • Soft drinks – Asahi from Japan to buy Cadbury soft drinks business in Australia for $809m.
  • Dairy – Australia’s Bega Cheese to buy Strathmerton plant from Kraft.
  • Water – US DS Waters buys Blue Ridge.
  • Wine – Campari from Italy to buy 99% of Odessa in Ukraine.
  • Dairy – Agropur from Canada to buy Schroeder in US; $120m sales.
  • Water – Nestlé buys Santa Barbara in Brazil; €31m investment.
  • Soft drinks – Coca-​Cola Hellenic from Greece completes purchase of SOCIB in Italy for €264m.
  • Juice – PepsiCo buys additional 18% of Lebedyansky in Russia for $285m.
  • Soft drinks – France’s La Martiniquaise buys Sirop Sport brand from Orangina Schweppes.

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About the author

Richard Hall is chairman of Zenith International.

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