Announcement Re Acquisition
Britvic plc
14 May 2007
Announcement re Acquisition
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
Monday 14th May 2007
Britvic plc ('Britvic')
Acquisition of the soft drinks and related businesses of C&C Group plc
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Summary
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The Board of Britvic is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire the
soft drinks and distribution businesses ('CCSD') of C&C Group plc for €249.2m
(£169.5m) in cash. CCSD owns a number of leading brands in the Republic of
Ireland and Northern Ireland ('the territory'), including Club, Ballygowan
water, Britvic, Cidona, MiWadi, and Energise Sport as well as the rights to
Pepsi and 7Up brands in the territory through its bottling agreements with
PepsiCo.
Commenting on the acquisition, Paul Moody, CEO of Britvic:
'This is a great opportunity to accelerate earnings growth and provides us with
a leading position in the soft drinks markets in both the Republic of Ireland
and Northern Ireland. Additionally, there is exciting potential for supply chain
synergies, brand and product expansion and innovation.
This is an important acquisition for Britvic as we seek to grow the business
both within the UK and by selective international expansion. We are very pleased
to welcome an experienced and highly capable CCSD senior management team and
their colleagues. We believe we have many opportunities to further develop both
CCSD's own brands and the Pepsi and 7Up brands in these markets.'
Rationale for the acquisition and financial effects
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The transaction represents an important step in the strategic development of
Britvic, consolidating complementary businesses in the territory and adding to
Britvic's position in Great Britain.
The transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing before integration costs in
the first full year, and will cover Britvic's cost of capital in the second full
year.
Britvic anticipates annual pre-tax synergies of around €14m, to include the
following:
• Improved revenue growth through increased focus and leveraging brand
portfolio strength;
• Increased utilisation of the existing supply chain network;
• Scale benefits in direct procurement;
• System benefits driving indirect procurement savings.
The anticipated integration costs to achieve these synergies will be in the
region of €20-€25m over the first three years, around half of which is estimated
to be capital expenditure. One-off working capital benefits in the same period
are expected total between €6-7m.
This acquisition represents the most significant step to date in Britvic's
acquisition growth plans highlighted at the time of flotation in 2005. It will:
• Accelerate short-term growth and provides further significant opportunities
for Britvic to drive scale economics whilst also leveraging asset efficiency
across a broader product and geographic footprint;
• Facilitate a low risk incremental expansion to Britvic's international
activities alongside our longstanding partner PepsiCo;
• Give Britvic, over the mid to longer term, the opportunity to drive the
Group's top line growth via:
• The potential cross-introduction of selected brands in both countries;
• Application of supply chain and commercial best practice;
• Acceleration of new product development.
Overview of CCSD
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CCSD is the second largest branded soft drinks business in territory by both
volume and value.
CCSD's brand profile position is very similar to Britvic's, and it retains four
of the number one soft drinks brands in their categories. It holds the franchise
for PepsiCo's 7Up and Pepsi brands in the territory whilst also having a
portfolio of owned brands including Ballygowan, the number one water brand in
Ireland with volume of 61m litres, the Club brand, which is the number one fruit
carbonate brand with total volume of 42m litres, as well as MiWadi and the
Britvic brand.
The territory has a total population of 5.8m people (Republic of Ireland 4.2m,
Northern Ireland 1.6m) with the greatest growth in the most economically active
age groups (25+ yrs). GDP CAGR 02-07 is 5.6% with disposable income growing at
4.1%.
The territory has the highest per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks
(CSD's) in Europe (122 ltrs/head compared with an average of 100lts/head). There
is growing health consciousness centred on sugar consumption and childhood
obesity, and this aligns itself to Britvic's adapting soft drinks portfolio.
Water consumption, whilst relatively low, is growing rapidly. There is also a
high level of interest in 'functional' and 'enhanced' beverages.
Terms and Timing of the Acquisition
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Expected to be completed before 31st August 2007, the acquisition will be funded
100% by debt, using existing debt facilities.
Britvic will retain the experienced CCSD senior management team to help ensure
continuity. Britvic also expects to retain all brands, subject to competition
authority approval.
Competition law in the Republic of Ireland requires notification of the
transaction to the competition authorities with a minimum 30 day gap before
approval and hence completion of the transaction.
Financial information
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CCSD
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On an IFRS basis, for the year ended 27 February 2007, CCSD had net turnover of
€269.9m and earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation of
€24.7m. Gross assets as at 27 February 2007 were €134.4m. An FRS 17 pension
deficit of around €20m will also be assumed.
The purchase consideration reflects earnings, synergies and also the favourable
local tax environment.
Britvic's Current Trading
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Current trading reflects the positive trends seen earlier in the financial year,
with an improved performance in the carbonates market compared with the post
Christmas period last year. As a result, management remains confident with
regard to the full year outcome. Further information on this and the acquisition
will be available on Monday 21st May 2007 when our Interim Results will be
released.
INVESTOR ENQUIRIES:
Britvic plc 00 44 (0)1245 504 330
John Gibney
Jo Guano
Craig Marks
PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Britvic plc 00 44 (0)7834 962542
Julian Mears
Brunswick 00 44 (0)20 7404 5959
Tom Buchanan
Conor McClafferty
There will be a conference call today at 9.30am for investors, analysts and
lending banks where there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Accompanying
slides will be available on britvic.com from 9.00am.
There will also be a conference call at 2pm (9am Eastern Time) primarily for US
investors, noteholders and analysts, and again there will be an opportunity to
ask questions. A recording of the calls will be available for seven days. To
access this call please dial the access number below and use the pin number
given.
Access number +44 (0)20 8609 0205
Pin number 542386#
Redial number +44 (0)20 8609 0289
Conference reference 172866#
Notes to editors
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Britvic is one of the two leading branded soft drinks businesses in Great
Britain. The Company is the largest supplier of still soft drinks, the faster
growing category in the soft drinks market, and the number two supplier of
carbonates.
Britvic plc's broad portfolio of leading brands includes established names with
high brand recognition such as Robinsons and Tango and highly successful
innovations such as J2O and Fruit Shoot. Included within the portfolio are the
Pepsi and 7UP brands, which Britvic produces, markets, sells and distributes
under its exclusive appointment from PepsiCo which runs until December 2023.
This brand and product portfolio enables Britvic to target and satisfy a wide
range of consumer demands in all major soft drinks categories, via all available
routes to market.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
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This announcement includes statements that are forward-looking in nature.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as
required by the Listing Rules and applicable law, Britvic undertakes no
obligation to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events
occurring after the date such statements are published.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange