Suntory Makes Binding Offer to Acquire Orangina

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain and Paris, France, Orangina Schweppes is the number two player in the European still soft drinks market and the number three player in the European carbonated soft drinks market.

23 Sep 2009 --- Lion Capital LLP and The Blackstone Group International, on behalf of funds advised by each of them, confirm that they 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 industry-leading growth, both organically in its core countries and by expansion into new markets, and through strategic acquisitions of leading brands. From 2006 to 2009, total group volumes and sales have expanded, supported by a re-launch of each of the core brands and stepped-up investment in trade and consumer marketing. Orangina Schweppes is today the 2 nd largest producer in the European still soft drinks market.

Rothschild, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Blackstone Corporate Advisory, RBS and Nomura acted as financial advisors to Lion Capital and Blackstone.

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain and Paris, France, Orangina Schweppes is the number two player in the European still soft drinks market and the number three player in the European carbonated soft drinks market.

The company markets, bottles and distributes a number of soft drinks through a unique portfolio of leading products that includes iconic brands such as Orangina, Schweppes, Oasis, Trina, La Casera and Pulco, strong national brands such as Rosinka in Ukraine, and niche brands as Champomy, Gini, Vida and Pampryl. Total revenues amount to over €1 billion and the company employs nearly 2500 people. Although Western Europe remains the heart of the business, the company’s products are sold in over 60 countries, reaching as far as Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.