Cott Corp. To Divest Its Beverages Unit

Canadian beverage manufacturer Cott Corporation is selling its Cott Beverages business to Dutch firm Refresco, an independent bottler of soft drinks and fruit juices for retailers and A-brands. The purchase price is $1.25 billion in cash; Cott Beverages generates approximately $1.7 billion in revenues. The company said the sale would allow it to focus on its water, coffee, tea, and filtration businesses, growing organically and through acquisitions. The company manufactures carbonated soft drinks, shelf stable juice and juice-based products, energy drinks, a range of waters, new age beverages, ready-to-drink teas, freezables and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. Refresco has production facilities in Europe, the U.K., and the U.S.