Rmy sells brands to ex-director

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Rmy-Cointreau group has sold its portfolio of Dutch and Italian liqueur and spirits brands, including Bols and Galliano, to a former director of the company and a Dutch private equity firm.

Huub van Doorne - who sat on the executive board of Rmy-Cointreau until September 2004 - and ABM Amro Capital paid 210 million (145m) for the group, which also includes brands such as Bokma, Coeburgh and Corenwyn from Holland, as well as Vaccari Sambuca from Italy. Sales are initially expected to be in the region of 95m (66m). Doorne will take a 25% stake in the company - expected to trade under the Lucas Bols name and be based in Amsterdam - with the bank taking the rest.

Maxxium UK, part-owned by Rmy-Cointreau, has confirmed that it will continue to act as distributor for the Bols, Galliano and Vaccari Sambuca brands in the UK.

Commenting on the announcement, Huw Pennell, managing director of Maxxium UK, said: We have worked with Huub van Doorne at Rmy-Cointreau for a number of years, and we're delighted that the brands will continue to benefit from his guidance and expertise as they return to their Amsterdam home. Huub led the strategic repositioning of the Bols brand, and this has been central to Maxxium UK's work on cocktails.'

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