Marketing

Britvic & AG Barr discuss £1.3bn merger

Discussions between Britvic and Scotland’s AG Barr company on a £1.3 billion merger appear to be ‘well advanced’. Under such a share merger scenario Britvic shareholders would acquire 63 per cent of the merged company while AG Barr’s would take up the remainder.

It’s envisaged that Barr’s Chief Executive Roger White would lead the new merged entity.

"A merger would create one of the leading soft drinks companies in Europe, with a strong portfolio of market-leading brands," claimed Britvic, "The combination would have compelling industrial logic and represents an opportunity for both companies to enhance their industry position and achieve significant synergies and shareholder value."

However other companies such as Diageo and Suntory have also been mentioned in dispatches from the market analysts as being interested in Britvic’s brands’ potential.

The merger would likely result in management cost savings, enhanced purchasing power and improved market access.
Britvic also owns Ballygowan and the Club range of soft drinks here through Britvic Ireland.

The company admitted recently that two batches of Ballygowan were withdrawn from the island of Ireland market following FSAI and British Food Standards Agency comments to the effect that there had been an “off odour” in a small number of drinks.

The two companies will announce the outcome of their merger talks on October 3rd.


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