Pernod Ricard, through its Canadian subsidiary Corby Spirit and Wine, acquired a 90% stake in Ace Beverage Group, with a clear path to 100% ownership via two call options exercisable in 2025 and 2028. The transaction is structured as a majority‑stake bolt‑on designed to position Corby as a leading force in the Canadian RTD category, where Ace Beverage Group is already the largest independent operator and a pure‑play RTD platform. Created via the 2020 combination of Cottage Springs and Ace Hill, ABG has built a strong presence around its flagship brand Cottage Springs, which leads the Ontario RTD market with iconic products such as Vodka Soda, Vodka Water, and Tequila Soda, while also offering a secondary portfolio of brands like Ace Hill, Cabana Coast, and Liberty Village. The Canadian RTD segment has been one of the fastest‑growing sub‑categories in beverage alcohol, with above‑20% annual growth between 2016 and 2021 and an expected continuation of double‑digit growth in coming years, driven by demand for convenience, low‑sugar formulations, and on‑trend flavor profiles.

ACE BEVERAGE GROUP, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2023, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the AgriFood sector (10.3x).

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