Brown-Forman Corporation has sold the Finlandia vodka brand to Coca-Cola HBC AG for USD 220 million. The purchase was announced in June 2023, and the customary closing process is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals. Roschier acted as co-lead counsel to Brown-Forman in the transaction, advising in matters related to Finnish law.
The US-based Brown-Forman Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is the owner of several beverage brands, among them the Jack Daniels brand. The company acquired Finlandia from Altia Corp. (predecessor to the current production partner Anora Group Plc) in multiple phases, obtaining full ownership in 2004.
Roschier acted as a co-lead counsel to Brown-Forman Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, Brown-Forman Netherlands BV, with respect to Finnish matters in the sale of Brown-Forman Finland Oy, owner of the Finlandia vodka brand, to CC Beverages Holdings II BV, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola HBC.
Roschier’s main advisory team, led by M&A Partner Jouni Salmi, comprised experts from several of our practice areas: Mira Ahonen (Private M&A), Mikael Segercrantz (IP & Tech), Janne Nurminen (Employment), Mika Ohtonen, Andreas Bussman, Antti Karjanoja, Sampsa Myllymäki and Ville Rautanen (Tax & Structuring), Minna Hanninen (Brand Protection) and Robert Holmberg (Public M&A).
