PwC and Strategy& advise Stock Spirits on deal talks for whisky brand

19 July 2023 Consultancy.eu

Poland-headquartered Stock Spirits has entered into exclusive negotiations to purchase the Clan Campbell scotch whisky brand from Pernod Ricard. PwC and Strategy& are supporting the buy-side side of the (potential) transaction.

With over 240 brands, Pernod Ricard is one of the world’s largest brands in the alcohol and spirits landscape. Among others Absolut (vodka), Altos (tequila), Beefeater (gin), Havana Club (rum), Ballantine’s and Jameson (whisky), Perrier-Jouët (champagne), and Jacob Creek (wine) are part of its brand portfolio.

As part of its strategy to focus more on premium brands, Pernod Ricard earlier this year put up its Clan Campbell whisky brand up for sale (which it acquired back in 1974). Following a competitive bidding process, Stock Spirits Group has come out as the preferred buyer.

PwC and Strategy& advise Stock Spirits on deal talks for whisky brand

Stock Spirits is a spirits company with a footprint in Central Europe, mainly present in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy. The company owns more than 70 brands, including Zoladkowa Vodka, Stock 84 brandy, Limonce limoncello and Bozkov rum. Stock Spirits employs more than 1,200 people and exports to more than 50 countries worldwide.

The brand it is seeking to acquire, Clan Campbell, is a blended 12-year-old Scotch whisky with a strong presence in markets such as France, Spain, Luxembourg, and Italy.

Supporting Stock Spirits with securing and closing the deal are consultants from PwC, and strategy consulting subsidiary Strategy&. PwC carried out the financial and legal due diligence, as well as provided tax structuring expertise on behalf of Stock Spirits. Strategy& conducted the strategic and operational due diligence.

In parallel with the Clan Campbell agreement, Stock Spirits has also entered into exclusive negotiations to purchase Dugas, a French independent distributor of premium spirits. The two transactions are currently subject to the relevant regulatory and labour procedures required in France.

In May of this year, Pernod Ricard acquired a minority stake in ecoSPIRITS, a circular economy technology start-up focused on low carbon distribution systems for the drinks industry.