Constellation Brands – STZ – To Acquire Remaining 50 Percent Interest in Crown Imports Joint Venture
Constellation Brands, Inc., (NYSE:STZ), which currently owns 50 percent of Crown Imports LLC (Crown), a 50-50 joint venture with Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V. (Modelo), announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev) to purchase the remaining 50 percent interest in Crown as AB InBev completes its proposed acquisition of Modelo. The purchase price is $1.85 billion and represents 50 percent of a multiple of approximately 8.5 times Crown’s EBIT. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close during the first quarter of calendar 2013.
“This is a significant milestone in the history of Constellation Brands,” said Rob Sands, president and chief executive officer, Constellation Brands. “We have been the importer, marketer and seller of the Modelo brands in the U.S. for almost two decades. During this time, the Crown team has successfully built the Modelo portfolio into an enviable position of leadership and growth. Our full ownership of this significant beer business provides an additional strategic lever for driving overall profitable organic growth. We expect this transaction to dramatically enhance the financial profile of our company and it will solidify Constellation Brands’ position as the largest multi-category supplier of beverage alcohol and the third largest total beverage alcohol company in the U.S.”
Crown’s portfolio of brands includes Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Negra Modelo and Victoria. Corona Extra is the best-selling imported beer and the sixth best-selling beer overall in the industry. Corona Light is the leading imported light beer and Modelo Especial is the third largest and one of the fastest growing major imported beer brands.
“Crown is currently experiencing significant marketplace momentum driven by new products as well as innovation in advertising, marketing, promotions and packaging,” Sands added.
“This agreement provides certainty and continuity for Crown and its wholesaler partners,” said Bill Hackett, president, Crown Imports. “We look forward to continuing to work with our wholesaler network to further grow the Modelo portfolio of brands across the U.S. marketplace.
Under the terms of the transaction, Constellation Brands and Crown will have complete, independent control of distribution, marketing and pricing for all Modelo brands in the U.S., while AB InBev will ensure continuity of supply, quality of products and the ability to introduce innovations. The new importation agreement will be perpetual and provides AB InBev with the right, but not the obligation, to exercise a call option every 10 years, subject to regulatory approval, at a multiple of 13 times Crown’s EBIT from the Modelo brands.
About Constellation Brands, Inc. – STZ
As the world’s leader in premium wine, Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ) is a S&P 500 Index and a Fortune 1000® company with 4,400 employees, sales in 125 countries and operations in 40 facilities worldwide. STZ manages a broad portfolio of more than 100 wines, beers and spirits that include: Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Kim Crawford, Inniskillin, Franciscan Estate, Ruffino, Simi, Estancia, Corona Extra, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and SVEDKA Vodka.
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Post Written By: Ed Liston
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.
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