Stock Spirits completes acquisition of Borco

Stock Spirits Group, one of the leading alcohol beverage companies in Europe, has finalised the acquisition of the Hamburg-based premium spirits producer, marketer and distributor, Borco-Marken-Import Matthiesen.

The transaction is mutually beneficial to both parties. It will enable Stock Spirits to gain access to the attractive German spirits market by leveraging Borco’s distribution network to introduce a selection of Stock brands. In addition, Stock Spirits will enrich its portfolio through the integration of Borco’s portfolio of international premium spirits, including the iconic Sierra Tequila brand, which is consumed in almost 90 countries and currently ranks second in Europe for tequila sales. Tequila is now the fastest-growing spirits category in the world. It has huge international potential and will be an important addition to Stock’s growing geographic footprint.

Reflecting on the acquisition, CEO of Stock Spirits Jean-Christophe Coutures remarked, “We are delighted to welcome the Borco team as part of the Stock Spirits Group. This transaction is part of our growth strategy and will help us achieve our ambition of becoming the leading spirits company in Europe by 2027. Borco will enjoy better growth opportunities and expand its portfolio with the inclusion of Stock selected brands. For Stock Spirits, the main benefits are the access to the German market and entry into the dynamic tequila segment through the addition of the iconic Sierra Tequila brand to our portfolio.”

Borco is gaining a strong strategic investor to help the Hamburg-based company grow the reach of its brands internationally. Borco will also benefit from improved growth opportunities in its home markets in Germany and Austria through access to Stock’s extensive spirits portfolio. Borco’s enriched product range will provide value and choice to German consumers and retailers. The German company will also benefit from being part of a larger Group, and enjoy access to new sources of investment, state-of-the-art tools and systems, and new career opportunities for employees.

Borco is Stock Spirits Group’s fourth acquisition in recent months. The Group finalised the purchase of the Polish entity, Polmos Bielsko-Biała, an expert producer of high-quality pure and flavoured spirits. This move enables Stock Spirits to enhance its own portfolio in the vodka segment in Poland, especially in the mainstream and premium categories. Polmos Bielsko-Biała premium brands will also be used to drive increases in the volume of premium vodka exports across Europe.

The other two transactions are the purchase of the Clan Campbell Scotch whisky with the intention to enter into the growing whisky category. The other is the acquisition of Dugas group, a leading brand builder and distributor of premium and super-premium spirits in France.

Stock Spirits offers a broad range of high-quality products, including vodka, vodka-based flavoured liqueurs, rum, brandy, bitters and limoncello. The company combines 140 years of local and regional heritage with modern-day innovation. It offers a portfolio of 70 high-quality brands, which are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. The group has more than 1,200 employees and operates five production sites.

“Stock Spirits is making significant progress on its value-creation journey. In recent months, it has finalised four M&As. These will enable rapid growth in new geographies across Europe and a presence in the high-potential categories of tequila and whisky. Importantly, the acquisition of Borco provides Stock Spirits with access to one of Europe’s largest markets and to the tequila category by having Sierra Tequila in its portfolio” – says Krzysztof Krawczyk, Partner in CVC Capital Partners.

Source: Stock Spirits Group