Britvic pays €237m for French soft drinks group
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Related articles
Britvic is to buy the French soft drinks maker Fruite for €237m (£203m) as it looks to expand across Europe. The Tango and Robinsons giant unveiled the deal yesterday alongside a 39 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to £27.8m for the six months to 11 April.
Britvic said the acquisition would give it a foothold in the £11bn French soft drinks market, in which Fruite claims to be the leading independent company, while also acting as a platform for growth across Western Europe.
Fruite's range includes the dilutable syrup brands Teisseire and Moulin de Valdonne and the pure juice specialist Pressade.
Britvic yesterday raised £94m through an equity placing at 430p a share to help fund the deal. Its shares closed up 4 per cent at 458p.
The proposed takeover comes as Britvic hailed a "return to robust growth" in the second half so far amid signs of modest improvements across all markets, while the struggling Britvic Ireland arm scraped back into profit in the first six months.
-
Emergency landing at Heathrow sparks further controversy over London airport capacity
-
Unrest may spread across Europe, warns Red Cross chief
-
French government seeks to ban extreme right-wing group
-
BNP and EDL accused of attempt to fuel racial hatred after Woolwich terror attack
-
You want to get an Eton scholarship? All you need to do is answer four (not so simple) questions
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions
In pictures: After the flood
Death becomes her: A very modern mortician
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery
The man who's eaten everywhere
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?


Comments