Sweden has sold Absolut to France
The government of Sweden has sold the company, which is producing vodka Absolut, to French alcoholic giant Pernod Ricard.
Pernod Ricard has paid 55 billion Swedish crones (9,24 billion dollars) for company Vin and Sprit, which makes the second on popularity vodka brand in the world .
Pernod Ricard has declared that after purchase Absolut it in due course will refuse from sale of vodka “Capital” outside Russia.
Earlier Pernod Ricard negotiated for purchase of brands “Capital” and Stolichnaya with Russia, which is their owner.
Pernod Ricard has collected the whole collection of world famous alcoholic brands, such as whisky Chivas and Ballentine’s, rum Havana Club, champagne Mumm, cognac Martell and gin Beefeater.
British company Diageo, owning world vodka brand N1 Smirnoff, firstly participated in competition on purchase of V&S, but later it has left competition.
American company Bacardi which besides the same rum since 2004 owns vodka mark Grey Goose was one more applicant.
The government of Sweden spends the program of privatization, which the company V&S joined.
Pernod Ricard is measured to stop manufacture of Absolut in Sweden. The turn of V&S makes nearby 1 billion euro (1,3 billion dollars) and 2,5 thousand people in 10 countries work in the company.
Absolut is the fourth on popularity alcoholic brand of the world after vodka Smirnoff, rum Bacardi and whisky Johnnie Walker.
