Emperador buys Spanish brandy maker Bodega

Emperador Distillers Inc., the liquor unit of property tycoon Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc., is acquiring Bodega San Bruno S.A., a brandy company based in Spain.

 

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Emperador said it has forged an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Bodega from González Byass S.A., one the largest and oldest liquor and wine conglomerates in Spain.

 

The acquisition will include SAN BRUNO, the trademark registered in 1942. The transaction also comprises vineyards in Jerez, the brandy-producing region of Spain, and a sizable inventory of high-quality and well-matured brandy, now being stored and aged in sherry casks in the bodegas or wineries of Jerez.

 

“We are very pleased with our acquisition of SAN BRUNO, which will enable us to own one of the world’s best brandy stocks – some of it quite rare and aged for more than 40 years,  Winston Co, Emperador president. 

 

The acquisition, Co noted, will further strengthen Emperador’s position as world’s No. 1 one brandy company by volume and help boost its competitiveness in the global market.

 

Emperador sold more than 31 million cases of brandy last year.

 

It produces Emperador, Generoso and Emperador Light brandies and a line of flavored alcoholic beverages called The Bar.

 

The company expects P20 billion in sales in 2012, banking on wider patronage of its products and the acquisition of Diageo Philippines’ Sta. Rosa facilities. 

 

Diageo is an international company whose brands include Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Gordon's Gin and Jose Cuervo.

 

In 2011, Emperador made a net income of P17.35 billion, accounting for 26 percent of AGI’s consolidated bottom line. — VS, GMA news