Refresco Gerber, which bottles Del Monte juice drinks and Innocent smoothies, has attracted first round bid interest from Blackstone and other private equity companies.
According to reports, former Orangina owner – US private equity firm Blackstone – is considering a return to the soft drinks industry with a £1.5bn approach for Refresco Gerber.
Sources quoted in The Telegraph said that Blackstone and other rivals including KKR and CVC were expected to lodge interest by a pre-Christmas first round bid deadline.
Partially-owned by UK private equity firm 3i and an Icelandic investment consortium, Refresco Gerber appointed US-based JP Morgan in the summer to advise on the possible sale – which is also thought to be weighing up a flotation. The decision on a sale or float may not come until March.
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