FDBusiness.com

Refresco Gerber, the leading European bottler of soft drinks and fruit juices for retailers and branded customers, has initiated a process to actively explore a new capital structure to support future growth.

Since inception in 1999, Refresco Gerber has grown from a small Dutch business to a Eur2 billion pan-European bottler. This has been achieved through a successful implementation of the company’s “Buy & Build” strategy, which refers to external growth via strategic acquisitions, coupled with organic growth. Refresco Gerber has executed 12 acquisitions since 2000, followed by a significant consolidation milestone, the merger of Refresco and Gerber Emig, in November 2013.

Twelve months into the integration of Refresco and Gerber Emig, the process is well on track and synergies are coming through faster than foreseen. The combined business is a leading player in its markets and ready to meet its customers’ changing needs and requirements. Building on this success, Refresco Gerber has continuing ambitions to further enhance its business and to drive growth.

Hans Roelofs, chief executive of Refresco Gerber, comments: “With the integration running smoothly and due to be completed before the end of 2015, it is now time to focus on the next phase of growth. The merger has created a market-leading platform in Europe, and we are well positioned to capture private label and contract manufacturing opportunities in Europe and acquisitive growth in Europe and beyond. To optimally position the company to capture this growth potential, we are currently exploring all options to further enhance our capital structure.”

Refresco Gerber is supported by a strong and dedicated shareholder base comprising an Icelandic consortium, Hanover Acceptances (former owner of Gerber Emig), 3i and the management. The group of shareholders has always supported Refresco Gerber in its growth and feels now is a good moment to explore the appropriate capital structure alternatives to support the company’s growth ambitions going forward. JP Morgan has been retained to advise the company and its shareholders in this respect.

Refresco Gerber operates production facilities in the Benelux, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy, the UK, Poland and Finland. The company is projecting full year volumes and revenue of circa 6.0 billion litres and circa €2.0 billion, respectively. Refresco Gerber offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from 100% fruit juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, pouches and glass. In addition to the efficiency of its bottling processes, the company also provides customers with total supply chain solutions – from planning and sourcing of raw materials and packaging through to warehousing and transportation. Refresco Gerber is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and employs about 4,700 staff.