Accountants, business and wealth advisers firm Kreston Reeves has advised The Drinks Company on its sale to the Stock Spirits Group.
Established in 1996 in Horsham, West Sussex, The Drinks Company is a specialist and exclusive importer and distributor of award-winning spirits and speciality drinks to the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the travel retail sector. It has a wide portfolio of spirits and is perhaps best known for its Sierra Tequila brand.
The Stock Spirits Group, backed by the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, is expanding rapidly across Europe through the acquisition of value-for-money and local drinks brands and distributors.
Kreston Reeves, which has worked with The Drinks Company since 2015, advised the business on financial and tax due diligence elements of the sale, together with the tax-efficient structure for the sellers on exit.
The Kreston Reeves team was led by partner Sarah Ediss, with corporate tax manager James O’Leary advising on tax.
Sarah said: “Kreston Reeves has worked with the team at The Drinks Company for the past 10 years and has seen the business grow and flourish over that time. We are delighted to have worked with them on their successful exit to The Stock Spirits Group and wish them every success as their journey continues.”
Bill Oddy, managing director, The Drinks Company, added: “This is a significant milestone for the business that will see it continue to grow under the ownership of The Stock Spirits Group.
“We are enormously grateful to the support and guidance provided by Kreston Reeves, in particular Sarah Ediss, around this sale. The advice and guidance have been critical to the success of the deal, and indeed to the business over the last decade.”
