Latest mergers & acquisitions news and analysis articles 
Who's buying who, for how much and why.
Analysis - Britvic, AG Barr merger chances fade after shake-up
22 May 2013
Britvic's plan to shutter three of its UK facilities could have put its halted merger with AG Barr in further jeopardy, analysts have warned.
Analysis - Diageo could make 'quantum leap' for Moet Hennessy
21 May 2013
Diageo could look to make a "quantum leap" by buying out LVMH's majority stake in Moet Hennessy under Ivan Menezes' leadership, according to an analyst.
UK: OFT waves through Coca-Cola's full Innocent takeover
21 May 2013
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has given the green light to the Coca-Cola Company's bid to take full ownership of UK smoothie maker Innocent Drinks.
INDIA: Diageo details United Spirits MTO uptake
15 May 2013
Diageo has confirmed the completion of its mandatory tender offer to up its stake in United Spirits, with only 0.4% of the Indian spirits firm's shares being tendered.
US: Constellation Brands lines up Crown Imports funds
15 May 2013
Constellation Brands has raised US$1.55bn in a debt offering to help pay for its full takeover of Crown Imports.
Analysis - Gruppo Campari still an "active consolidator"
14 May 2013
Gruppo Campari might be on the look out for more acquisitions once it beds in latest buy Lascelles deMercado & Co, an analyst has said.
FRANCE: Chinese owners up presence in Bordeaux with estate purchase
14 May 2013
Another Bordeaux wine estate has fallen under Chinese ownership with architect Wengcheng Li acquiring the Château La Fleur Jonquet, located in the Graves growing area, on the left bank of the Garonne river.
US: Jackson Family Wines takes more Oregon acres
14 May 2013
Jackson Family Wines has upped its acreage in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as part of a plan to produce high-end wines in the region.
MYANMAR: Heineken leaves Tiger beer with Fraser & Neave
13 May 2013
Fraser & Neave will continue to operate Heineken's Tiger brand in Myanmar for at least five years despite the Dutch brewer launching a JV in the country.
MYANMAR: Heineken plans US$60m brewery with JV deal
13 May 2013
Heineken is to build a US$60m brewery in Myanmar as part of a new joint-venture in the country.
SPAIN: Freixenet silent on Rias-Baixas purchase reports
8 May 2013
Spanish cava and fine wines exporter Freixenet has declined to comment on reports that it could be on the verge of acquiring a bodega in the Rías Baixas area of Galicia in north-west Spain.
FRANCE: Remy Cointreau parent eyes full control of Oeneo
2 May 2013
The parent family of Rémy Cointreau is looking to take full ownership of wine stopper and cooperage group Oeneo.
UK: Scotch stocks stretched, says Hunter Laing & Co founder
2 May 2013
A Scotch industry veteran has warned of the “ongoing battle” to source whisky stocks as big companies snap up capacities to satisfy growth in new markets.
FRANCE: Nestle Waters receives “expressions of interest” in regional brands
1 May 2013
Nestlé Waters has received “expressions of interest” in the three French regional mineral water brands that make up its Société Française des Eaux Régionales (SFER) unit.
CANADA/UK/US: Cott Corp lines up Calypso Soft Drinks purchase
30 April 2013
Cott Corp has announced that its UK arm is set to buy the parent company of Calypso Soft Drinks in the country.
Comment - PepsiCo's Peltz Talks Revive Anheuser-Busch InBev Speculation
29 April 2013
An old story received a fresh tweak last week when PepsiCo confirmed it was in talks with investor Nelson Peltz.
MEXICO: Anheuser-Busch InBev reveals plan for new Grupo Modelo CEO
29 April 2013
Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced that the president of its Brazil unit, AmBev, will take over as Grupo Modelo CEO, once the US$20.1bn deal completes.
AUS/NZ: Delegat Group to buy Barossa Valley Estate
29 April 2013
Delegat Group is set to acquire the assets of troubled Australian winemaker Barossa Valley Estate for AUD24.7m (US$25.5m) in cash.
Analysis - Germany option could return for Coca-Cola Enterprises
26 April 2013
Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) may still buy The Coca-Cola Co's German operations further down the line, plus other European bottlers, an analyst has said.
US: Coca-Cola Enterprises says 'no' to German option as Q1 profits slide
26 April 2013
Coca-Cola Enterprises has posted a sharp drop in first-quarter profits and said it will not use an option to buy The Coca-Cola Co's German operations.
US: Wirtz teams with McLane to take Missouri Beverage stake
26 April 2013
Wirtz Beverage Group has joined forces with food supply firm McLane in a bid to take an unspecified stake in distributor Missouri Beverage.
just Five Years Ago: Carlsberg, Heineken seal Scottish & Newcastle purchase
25 April 2013
It was five years ago this week that the brewing industry said its final farewell to Scottish & Newcastle. The UK-based company saw its shares cease trading on 25 April, 2008, after Carlsberg and Heineken teamed up to buy and then split up the firm.
AUS: Asahi buys craft brand Cricketers Arms - report
25 April 2013
Asahi-owned Independent Distillers has acquired Australian craft beer brand Cricketers Arms, according to local reports.
UK: Lucozade, Ribena up for sale - GlaxoSmithKline
24 April 2013
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has confirmed Lucozade and Ribena are on the market, saying other companies will have a better chance of turning a profit from the brands.
Analysis - PepsiCo merger talk suggests potential US$60bn beverage sale
22 April 2013
A PepsiCo merger with snacks giant Mondelez could see it sell off its beverage business for as much as US$60bn, with Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) a possible suitor, an analyst has suggested.
US: Court agrees to Anheuser Busch InBev's Modelo deal concessions
22 April 2013
The anti-trust lawsuit filed over Anheuser-Busch InBev's US$20.1bn buy-out of Grupo Modelo has been fully laid to rest after a court allowed the settlement between the companies and the US Department of Justice (DoJ).
Analysis - Lucozade may plug Gatorade gap for The Coca-Cola Co
19 April 2013
The Coca-Cola Co may buy GlaxoSmithKline brand Lucozade to make up for the “sad lesson” of losing Gatorade to PepsiCo, an analyst has said.
Analysis - Hine sale to spark "significant interest"
19 April 2013
The sale of Cognac house Hine is likely to generate "significant interest" in the industry, according to an analyst.
US: Anheuser-Busch InBev secures Dep't of Justice clearance for Modelo move
19 April 2013
Anheuser-Busch InBev has reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice that will see the brewer secure its full takeover of Grupo Modelo.
US: PepsiCo reveals talks with Peltz over "long-term growth" plans
19 April 2013
PepsiCo has confirmed it has held discussions with activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management firm, after the businessman disclosed he has a US$269m stake in the soft drinks and snacks group.
