SÃO PAULO-Coca Cola, Ambev and Britvic showed preliminary interest in buying stake in brazilian manufacturer of Natural juices One, claimed two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The Natural One, founded 10 years ago by Ricardo Ermírio de Moraes, one of the heirs of the industrial conglomerate Votorantim, hired the Investment Bank unit of ABC Brazil to assist it in the transaction, the sources stated.
At least three investment companies, one of which is aligning with a Brazilian businessman of agribusiness, are also analyzing the transaction and can enter the contest by the company, stated the sources without identifying the Manager.
Matthews still have to decide whether to sell a minority share of Natural One or the control of the company and seek an assessment of about 450 million reais for the company 100%, said the first source.
Representatives from Coca-Cola, Britvic and the Natural One not commented on the matter immediately. AmBev and Brazil spoke not ABC.
A possible acquisition could help the future buyer to broaden access to Brazil, world''s fifth-largest market for healthy food products, according to consulting firm Euromonitor International. Natural drinks will grow 10% a year until 2020 in Brazil while the beverage market in General will go through annual expansion of 5% over the same period.
Brazilian companies of natural juices with no added sugar or preservatives, are expanding retail presence in the country. In April, another manufacturer of juices, the good was sold to Ambev for an undisclosed amount.
Beverage multinationals have invested in the market for carbonated products in recent years. Coca-Cola and Femsa bought for 10 years the Mexican Yokes Del Valle for 470 million dollars. Last year, Britvic bought the British Company Brazilian of drinks and food (Ebba), which holds the traditional brand Maguary, for 580 million dollars.
DCI
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