Lion Capital and The Blackstone Group International have received from Suntory Holdings a binding offer regarding the future ownership of the Orangina Schweppes Group.
Orangina Schweppes Group will now undertake the appropriate communication and consultation with relevant employee representatives.
The Blackstone Group and Lion Capital will only be able to take a decision as to whether they accept this offer once the necessary social, legal and regulatory steps will have been completed.
Lion Capital and Blackstone have been majority investment partners in Orangina Schweppes since 2006. Under their ownership and led by a largely new management team recruited by Blackstone and Lion Capital, Orangina Schweppes has achieved growth organically in its core countries and by expansion into new markets, and through strategic acquisitions of leading brands.
Orangina Schweppes is today the second largest producer in the European still soft drinks market.
Rothschild, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Blackstone Corporate Advisory, RBS and Nomura acted as financial advisers to Lion Capital and Blackstone.
