Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Please enter at least 3 characters.
Latest Stories

Britvic shareholders approve £3.3bn Carlsberg takeover

Britvic shareholders approve £3.3bn Carlsberg takeover

Britvic shareholders have voted in favor of Carlsberg’s proposed acquisition of the company, bringing the creation of UK beer and soft drink giant Carlsberg Britvic one step closer.

According to company updates, Britvic PLC has successfully passed shareholder resolutions approving a recommended cash acquisition by Carlsberg UK Holdings Limited, with overwhelming support in both Court and General Meetings.


Some 165 million votes – 99.7 per cent of those cast – were in favour of the transaction proceeding, Britvic said in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday (27 ). In total, 83 per cent of Britvic shareholders voted for the deal, it added.

The completion of the acquisition is now pending regulatory approvals and court sanctioning, with an expected effective date in the first quarter of 2025.

The drinks maker announced in July that it had reached a deal to be bought by Carlsberg for £3.3bn, after two previous bids were rejected. Carlsberg plans to roll its UK Carlsberg-Marston’s business into that of Britvic, creating a joint company called Carlsberg Britvic. The management team of Carlsberg Britvic is expected to be made up of individuals from Carlsberg, Carlsberg Marston’s and Britvic.

The acquisition will create value for shareholders, contribute to growth and forge a combined beer and soft drink company that is unique in the UK, CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen told investors about a month ago.

"With this transaction we are creating a UK powerhouse," he said, brushing off concerns from some analysts about integration risks, saying Carlsberg has a strong track record of running beer and soft drink businesses in several markets. Soft drinks already make up 16 per cent of Carlsberg's volumes.

As drinkers in some markets ditch beer for spirits or cut back on drinking altogether, brewers have looked to broaden their portfolio into new categories like hard seltzer, canned cocktails and cider, as well as zero-alcohol brews. Carlsberg said the deal will deliver a number of benefits, including cost and efficiency savings worth £100 million over five years as it takes advantage of common procurement, production and distribution networks.

More for you

Stoke Convenience Store in Aylesbury

Stoke Convenience Store in Aylesbury

Photo via LDRS

Vodka and vape sales ‘to children’ sees Bucks shop lose licence

A shop accused of selling vodka, vapes and tobacco to children has had its licence revoked by Buckinghamshire Council.

At least 65 complaints have been made about the Stoke Convenience Store at 59 Stoke Road, Aylesbury since 2022.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trust in UK-produced food reaches highest level in three years

iStock image

Trust in UK-produced food reaches highest level in three years

Trust in UK-produced food has reached its highest level since 2021 following three years of falling confidence in standards.

Most (75 per cent) adults now say they trust food produced in the UK. This is a rise from 71 per cent in 2023, although still below the level of trust felt by shoppers in 2021 (81 per cent).

Keep ReadingShow less
Carlsberg Britvic launches officially as acquisition deal completes

Image from Britvic

Carlsberg Britvic launches officially as acquisition deal completes

Carlsberg Britvic is celebrating its official launch today (17) following the completion of the deal for Carlsberg Group to acquire Britvic plc.

In a landmark moment in the history of Carlsberg Group and the British drinks industry, today (17) marks the official launch of Carlsberg Britvic – the new company uniting Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) and Britvic’s UK business.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Friston

Paul Friston

M&S veteran Paul Friston joins 2 Sisters Food Group as chief financial officer

Boparan Holdings Limited (BHL), the parent company of 2 Sisters Food Group, has announced the appointment of Paul Friston as its new group chief financial officer (CFO).

Friston will join the 2 Sisters Food Group business in early February and become a member of the BHL board.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fundraiser launched to restore Oxfordshire Spar store damaged in ram-raid

Spar Minster Lovell store damaged by ram-raid

Fundraiser launched to restore Oxfordshire Spar store damaged in ram-raid

A resident of Oxfordshire has started a campaign to raise funds to install metal shutters for Spar Minster Lovell store the front doors of which were completely devastated during a ram raid recently.

Calling the shop as "cornerstone" of her community in Oxfordshire, resident Karen Turner-Dutton is calling on people to offer donation to restore Spar Minster Lovell, owned and run by the family of retailer Ian Lewis, after its front was damaged badly during the shocking ram-raid.

Keep ReadingShow less