Pernod Ricard sells aquavit and bitter brands

Pernod Ricard has announced formally the signing of an agreement with Arcus-Gruppen to sell the Danish spirits brands Aalborg and Brøndums, German brand Malteserkreuz Aquavit, and the Danish bitter brand Gammel Dansk. The Aalborg production facility in Denmark is part of the transaction.

The €103 million deal (US$137m, £86m) was subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities and received final validation in December by the Bundeskartellamt, the German competition authority.

Arcus-Gruppen AS is the largest player in Norway in production, sale and distribution of wine and spirits. Swedish investment company Ratos is the majority owner of the company.

Ratos describes itself as a listed private equity conglomerate. Its business concept is to “generate, over time, the highest possible return through the professional, active and responsible exercise of its ownership role in a number of selected companies and investment situations. Added value is created in connection with acquisition, development and divestment of companies”.