PepsiCo to buy leading German juice maker

03/05/05 PepsiCo has announced that it has agreed to acquire Punica Getranke GmbH, a leading German maker of fruit juices and juice drinks, from Sunny Delight Beverages Co., a portfolio company of J.W. Childs Associates, L.P.

The acquisition will immediately expand and strengthen PepsiCo's German beverage portfolio by providing a leading position in several juice-related categories. It will dramatically expand PepsiCo's juice business in Continental Europe, which currently includes Tropicana and several affiliated brands.  The purchase also will establish Germany as one of  PepsiCo's largest juice and juice-drink markets in Continental Europe.

The Punica brand, marketed as the "fruitladen thirstquencher," is known to virtually every German household and appeals to children as well as adults. Punica's product portfolio addresses a range of consumer needs in three beverage segments: fruit nectars and juice drinks, tea and fruit blends and schorles (fruit juice and sparkling mineral water).

Punica products are offered in a range of packages, including distinctive glass bottles, paper cartons and PET plastic bottles.  Punica's products are distributed principally through grocery chains and Germany's more than 10,000 drinkcenter outlets.

Punica owns and operates a state-of-the-art plant in Hamburg for manufacturing concentrate and finished products.

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory clearance, is expected to be completed within the next several weeks.