SWEDEN - Ratos and Nordic Capital enter the battle for Vin & Sprit

Nordic Capital has joined forces with Fortune Brands, while Ratos has teamed up with Bacardi. According to reports, the Nordic Capital plan would see the spirits company divide into two. The private equity investor is chasing Vin & Sprit's smaller Nordic distribution and production operations, V&S Distillers and V&S Wines, while Fortune Brands is keen on the company's golden egg: Absolut Vodka. Ratos is rumoured to be interested in pursuing the same strategy together with Bacardi. Ratos’ owns Arcus Gruppen, a Norwegian wine and spirit producer and distributor, and the distillers and wines division of Vin & Spirit is seen as a good fit.

The two smaller units of Vin & Sprit are expected to be priced at SEK 4-8bn, while Aboslute has a price tag of somewhere between SEK 30-40bn.

Competing with these bidders for the drinks business are EQT and Investor AB, who have teamed up to make a bid and rival drinks drinks group Pernod Ricard.

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