Earlier today, Cott Corp agreed to offload its traditional beverage manufacturing business, known as Cott Beverages, to Refresco in a deal worth US$1.25bn. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the key factors behind the proposed transaction:
- The deal comprises Cott’s bottling activities, focussed on retailer brands and contract manufacturing
- The acquisition includes hot fill and cold fill operations, across several categories: carbonated soft drinks, juices and juice drinks, sparkling waters and mixers
- The purchase will add a total of 29 production sites to Refresco’s line-up: 19 in the US, four in Canada, one in Mexico and five in the UK
- Approximately 4bn litres of product will join Refresco’s output
- The acquisition is “transformational” according to Refresco – it will create the largest independent bottler for retailers and A-brands in Europe and North America with a total production volume of around 12bn litres
- Following the purchase, the company will operate 22 manufacturing sites in the US, four in Canada and one in Mexico. Refresco will have 26 manufacturing sites in continental Europe and six in the UK
- The transaction also represents “significant synergy potential”, Refreco said, with around EUR47m (US$55m) to be attained within three years of the deal closing.