BARCELONA, SPAIN, JUNE 28, 2018 – The Codorníu Raventós Group has signed an exclusivity agreement for the sale of a majority stake in the company to funds managed by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG). The transaction values the company at 390 million euros and is expected to close at the end of the year, subject to confirmatory due diligence and regulatory approvals. Equity for this investment will come from Carlyle Europe Partners, a mid-large capital buyout fund.
Mar Raventós, Chairwoman of Codorníu, is pleased with the agreement through which Carlyle will acquire a majority holding in the Catalan company, saying “This agreement will help boost the company overseas and consolidate and give continuity to our strategy, centered on building valuable and prestigious brands. After analyzing our various options, we have reached a consensus, agreeing on a solution which has a lot of potential and takes a long-term view on leadership for the company.”
With Carlyle’s future partnership, there is an opportunity for the Codorníu Raventós Group to continue to improve its performance and results. This year, the company expects to close its fiscal year with an EBITDA of 26 million euros, a significant improvement over the previous year’s results and fully in line with the company’s long term strategic plan.
Carlyle has a long tradition of successful partnerships with family businesses, supporting their growth and expansion. Alex Wagenberg, Managing Director, Carlyle Europe Partners, says, “Codorníu Raventós is an exceptional company, poised for global leadership in the cava and wine industry. The company has a number of first class brands, which are well positioned in the market. We hope to build on this successful trajectory by supporting the company with growing its global footprint, both organically and through acquisitions, and to further enhance its position in quality wines. We are proud to support a business with such a strong history and heritage.”
The Codorníu Raventós group, the oldest family-owned cava-producer in Spain, is a symbol of continuity and loyalty to its origins and innovation. The company has five centuries of history and experience that combine tradition and modernity, resulting in a winery that is able to innovate and respond to increasing demands for exceptional quality cavas and wines. With 10 wineries in Spain, Argentina and California and over 3,000 hectares of vineyards, Codorníu is a world leader in viticulture and oenological knowledge.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $201 billion of assets under management across 324 investment vehicles as of March 31, 2018. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,575 people in 31 offices across six continents.
About Carlyle Europe Partners
Carlyle Europe Partners (CEP) seeks to invest in mid-sized companies in Europe across a wide range of sectors and industries, accelerate their growth and support their efforts to expand internationally. The current fund is now the fourth in the CEP franchise. A team of 39 investment professionals manages the fund across five offices. In total, over 140 investors from 35 countries have made commitments to the CEP IV fund. Recent family partnerships by the fund include Saverglass (France), Logoplaste (Portugal), Cupa Group (Spain).
