Latest mergers & acquisitions news and analysis articles 
Who's buying who, for how much and why.
US/POLAND: CEDC bides time with Russian Standard
7 February 2012
Central European Distribution Corp has said that it needs time to consider Russian Standard's offer of debt funding and assets in return for a bigger stake in the distributor.
US: MillerCoors acquires Crispin Cider Co
7 February 2012
MillerCoors has acquired Crispin Cider Co in the US, signalling growing interest in the category amid shrinking sales of mainstream beer.
US/JAPAN: Sapporo Holdings to control Silver Springs Citrus
7 February 2012
Sapporo Holdings has agreed to acquire control of Silver Springs Citrus, one of the largest private-label producers of premium fruit juices in the US.
UK: Fuller, Smith & Turner to buy Enterprise pubs
6 February 2012
Fuller, Smith & Turner is set to expand distribution of its beers in the UK by acquiring 15 pubs from Enterprise Inns.
US/RUSSIA: CEDC says Russian Standard not only option
3 February 2012
Central European Distribution Corp has said that Russian Standard's proposal is one of several "options" it is exploring.
CHILE: Embotelladora Andina to merge with Coca-Cola Polar
3 February 2012
Embotelladora Andina is looking to merge its operations with rival Embotelladoras Coca-Cola Polar.
US/RUSSIA: Russian Standard details CEDC plan
2 February 2012
Russian Standard has offered Central European Distribution Corp emergency debt funding and distribution rights on its namesake vodka in return for handing over a further 23% stake in its business.
PHILIPPINES: Ginebra San Miguel to keep East Pacific separate
2 February 2012
Ginebra San Miguel has said that it will run its newly-acquired East Pacific Star Bottlers Philippines as a separate company.
PHILIPPINES: Ginebra San Miguel acquires East Pacific Star Bottlers Philippines - report
30 January 2012
San Miguel Corp's Ginebra San Miguel has paid PHP200m (US$4.6m) to acquire rival group East Pacific Star Bottlers Philippines, according to local reports.
POLAND: CEDC renews Beam Inc distribution, Russian Standard talks ongoing
24 January 2012
Central European Distribution Corp has renewed its exclusive distribution deal with Beam Inc in Poland, as the group continues to consider a proposal from Russian Standard.
TURKEY/RUSSIA: SABMiller, Anadolu Efes sign formal deal
24 January 2012
SABMiller has cemented an agreement with Anadolu Efes that will see it hand over Russian beer operations in return for a 24% stake in the Turkey-based brewer.
CHINA/HONG KONG: Kingway Brewery eyes sale on weak profits
23 January 2012
Kingway Brewery has said that it will consider selling all or part of its business, offering multinational brewers an opportunity to increase their scale in China's growing beer market.
NORDICS: Altia to acquire Xanté Co
23 January 2012
Altia has signed a deal to acquire Xanté Co from the Swedish Tilander family.
UK: Diageo should ditch Guinness for spirits - analyst
20 January 2012
Investec Securities analysts believe that Diageo would be better off selling Guinness and diving further into spirits, despite strong growth for the beer brand in Africa.
US: Southern Wine & Spirits of America to buy control of Odom Corp JV
19 January 2012
Southern Wine & Spirits of America has agreed to buy Odom Corp out of the two companies' distribution joint-venture.
CHINA: Accolade Wines makes China distribution buy
19 January 2012
Accolade Wines is looking to up its presence in China, through the majority stake purchase of Shanghai CWC Wine Trading Co.
AFRICA: SABMiller ups stake in Tanzania Breweries
19 January 2012
SABMiller has slightly increased its stake in Tanzania Breweries after acquiring shares sold on the open market by its ex-business partner, Diageo.
US: Vitaminwater co-founder takes stake in Bodyarmor
18 January 2012
The co-founder of Vitaminwater has made a "significant" investment in US drinks firm Bodyarmor.
IRELAND: Beam Inc completes Cooley Distillery buy
17 January 2012
Beam Inc has closed its acquisition of Cooley Distillery and has already earmarked the firm's Kilbeggan brand as a potential vehicle for capitalising on strong demand for Irish whiskey.
INDIA: Speculation mounts over UB Group finance plan for beer, spirits
16 January 2012
UB Group's financial difficulties have lead to reports that it is again mulling a stock listing for Whyte & Mackay, as the pressure grows for greater outside investment in the firm's spirits and beer businesses.
US: Dr Pepper Snapple buys Dublin bottler in trademark settlement
13 January 2012
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPGS) has settled its trademark dispute with Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Co in the US by purchasing the company.
UK: Cott Beverages makes Suso acquisition
13 January 2012
Cott Beverages has acquired the Suso brand from Suso Drinks in the UK for an undisclosed sum.
CZECH: Anheuser-Busch InBev acquires 'Budweiser' rights from Budejovicky Mestansky Pivovar
12 January 2012
Anheuser-Busch InBev has acquired the rights to the 'Budweiser' trademarks held by Czech brewer, Budejovicky Mestansky Pivovar.
ETHIOPIA: Diageo closes Meto Abo purchase
10 January 2012
Diageo has acquired Ethiopia's last state-owned brewer, Meta Abo, in a move that will see the Guinness brewer lock horns with Heineken and Castel in Ethiopia's beer market.
US: Boston Beer Co-funded unit buys Angel City Brewing
10 January 2012
Boston Beer Co has expanded its presence in the growing US craft beer sector by indirectly acquiring Angel City Brewing Co.
Comment - SABMiller: You Can't Always Get What You Want
9 January 2012
SABMiller's announcement earlier today about changes to its African alliance with Castel Group is the next best thing for the UK-based brewer.
AFRICA: SABMiller, Castel shake up Africa JV
9 January 2012
SABMiller and Castel have updated their African partnership, with one taking control of the two brewers' operations in Nigeria and the other handling Angola.
SWEDEN: Skanemejerier owners give all-clear to Lactalis talks
23 December 2011
The owners of Skånemejerier have given the company the green light to finalise talks to sell the business to French dairy and juice firm Lactalis.
Comment - Diageo, Pernod Ricard Ten Years After Seagram
22 December 2011
Ten years on and the legacy of Pernod Ricard and Diageo's carve-up of Seagram is still being felt.
just On Call - Kirin Holdings outlines Schincariol sales target
22 December 2011
Kirin Holdings has said it is overhauling Schincariol's business plan in order to help the Brazilian brewer deliver annual net sales growth of 10%.
