Carlsberg to acquire Ballygowan owner Britvic

Danish drinks giant Carlsberg has agreed to acquire Ballygowan owner Britvic in a deal that values the drinks group at around £3.3bn (€3.9bn).

In a statement today, UK-headquartered Britvic said that it will recommend the acquisition to its shareholders.

The offer of £13.15 per share is an increase from previous offers from the Danish brewer. Last month, the board of the soft drink maker rejected two bids of £12.50 per share and £12 per share from Carlsberg.

Britvic currently produces 39 brands, which are sold in 100 countries. This includes the TK Lemonade, Mi Wadi and Ballygowan brands in Ireland.

Britvic employs 360 people across the island of Ireland. It is the top domestic producer of soft drinks in Ireland, as well in the top 2 soft drinks companies by volume operating here.

It has also operated a manufacturing site in Ballyfermot for the past 50 years. The company also runs a Ballygowan bottling site in Newcastle West, Limerick for the past 35 years.

Carlsberg noted that it currently has no local presence in Ireland. As a result, Carlsberg will retain Britvic’s Irish operations on an “as-is basis” following the acquisition.

In the UK, the Danish company plans to create a single integrated company, which will be known as Carlsberg Britvic.

“The proposed transaction creates an enlarged international group that is well-placed to capture the growth opportunities in multiple drinks sectors,” Britvic’s non-executive chair Ian Durant said.

"With this transaction, we are combining Britvic's high-quality soft drinks portfolio with Carlsberg's strong beer portfolio and route-to-market capabilities, creating an enhanced proposition across the UK and markets in Western Europe,” added Carlsberg chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen.

Reporting on:independent.ie