Tag: GSK

Japan’s Suntory Beverage & Foods Ltd. has agreed to acquire, Lacozade and Ribena, two soft drink brands from GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (ADR) (NYSE: GSK) in a deal estimated at 1.35 billion pounds or $2.1 billion. The acquisition will allow Suntory, known for its beer and Yamazaki whisky, to beef up its product portfolio and gain traction in international markets, where these brands are present already. GlaxoSmithKline said that it use this money towards repaying debt and some other general corporate purposes.

Japan’s Suntory Beverage & Food is in final round of talks with Britain’s leading drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline Plc. ADR (NYSE: GSK) to buy latter’s Locozade and Ribena drinks, said people familiar with the matter. These sources said that Suntory has offered more than 1 billion pounds (about $1.6 billion) to buy these brands. The deal is likely to be announced in coming days, sources said. The bid comes shortly after GlaxoSmithKline in April said that it intends to sell Lucozade and Ribena. Although these brands have been successful in Britain, they have struggled to gain foothold in international markets.