The owners of the Hamburg-based Borco-Marken-Import Matthiesen GmbH & Co. KG (Borco), one of the leading German and European producers and marketers of spirits, entered into an agreement with Stock Spirits Group in relation to the potential sale of Borco to Stock Spirits. The transaction remains subject to German and Austrian regulatory procedures.
The planned transaction will create benefits for both Stock Spirits and Borco – it will enable Stock Spirits access to German market and include a tequila brand in its portfolio. Stock Spirits will also utilise Borco’s distribution structures to place its own brands in new markets. In return, Borco will gain a strong strategic investor to help with international expansion of its brands.
Borco has been a family-owned since its foundation in 1948. Its portfolio covers nearly all important spirits segments, and is unique in its strength and unity. Borco continues its normal operations and the teams and contact persons for customers and business partners also remain unchanged.
Markus Kohrs-Lichte, Chairman of the Management Board of Borco, sees the company well positioned for the future as a result of the sale: “The planned transaction with Stock Spirits is the right step into the future for Borco. The company will be able to continue to develop effectively and consistently expand its international business, which is good news for customers, business partners, and employees. At the same time, the acquisition also marks the end of an era for Borco as a family-owned business. Me and the team are grateful for the special years we experienced together with the Matthiesen family company and for the trust placed in us. The Matthiesen family built one of the leading spirits companies in Germany from the ground up, and paved now a new path for BORCO. I look forward to a new chapter in the company’s long and successful history.”
Stock Spirits is one of the leading alcohol beverage companies in Central Europe. It offers a broad range of high-quality products, including vodka, vodka-based flavoured liqueurs, rum, brandy, bitters and limoncello, combining 140 years of local and regional heritage with innovation. It offers a portfolio of 70 high quality brands available in over 50 countries worldwide. The group has more than 1,200 employees and operates five production sites. The planned acquisition of Borco follows the pending transactions in France to purchase the Clan Campbell Scotch whisky brand from Pernod Ricard, still subject to consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies; and Dugas, a leading brand builder and distribution partner for premium and super-premium spirits, subject to relevant regulatory approval in France.
Jean-Christophe Coutures, Stock Spirits CEO says “Borco has been a trusted and respected player in Germany and Austria for many years. The acquisition of Borco will be important step in our Western Europe expansion. Borco will benefit from better development opportunities including access to Stock’s extended spirits portfolio. Stock Spirits will gain access to the German market, one of the largest and most dynamic spirits market throughout Europe.”
“Our investment in Stock Spirits assumed M&A growth into new geographies across Europe and we are delighted that the business is making a strong progress in this strategic direction. Borco’s brands, in particular Sierra Tequila, have a great international potential, which we want to develop, and it’s an important addition to Stock’s geographic footprint.” Krzysztof Krawczyk, Partner in CVC Capital Partners.
