SWEDEN: Bacardi chief signals interest in V&S

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 5 March 2007

Bacardi has publicly registered its interest in buying V&S Group, the owner of Absolut vodka.

In an interview with the Financial Times today (5 March), Bacardi chief executive Andreas Gembler said V&S and Absolut would be "a terrific fit" for the privately-owned spirits giant.

"Of the few global brands that are really left to acquire, V&S - and in particular Absolut - obviously represents a jewel for a company like ours," Gembler told the newspaper.

On Friday, the Swedish government tabled a motion for parliamentary approval to sell V&S, one of six state-owned companies it is looking to sell.

A number of drinks companies have been named as possible buyers of V&S, including Constellation Brands, Brown-Forman, Bacardi and Pernod Ricard.

Norwegian wine and spirits group Arcus, meanwhile, has confirmed it would be interested in the Nordic operations of V&S.

Sectors: Spirits

Companies: Bacardi, V&S, Absolut, Constellation, Brown-Forman, Pernod, Ricard