Listed multi-category beverage producer Berentzen-Gruppe has opened negotiations with Sazerac Co about a possible full acquisition by the latter of the former.
In a filing published late yesterday (16 September), the north-west Germany-headquartered company “confirmed rumours” linking the pair to discussions. According to the statement, the talks are “regarding a voluntary public takeover offer to the shareholders of Berentzen for the acquisition of all outstanding shares in Berentzen”.
“The Berentzen Group will keep the capital markets and the public informed of developments in accordance with legal requirements,” the filing concluded.
Privately-owned Sazerac chose not to comment on the statement.
Berentzen operates across spirits, non-alcoholic beverages (through its Vivaris Getränke & Co business) and fresh fruit juice systems. Among its spirits brands are Puschkin vodka, Tres Países rum, Norden Sea Salt gin and the namesake fruit spirit and shot mark. In calendar 2025, the group’s total sales were EUR162.9m (then-US$193.9m).
For scale, Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits, the smallest brand-owner company in Global Drinks Intel‘s results coverage, booked sales from the same period of EUR172m.
This week’s development is the latest in a long line of M&A activity featuring Sazerac in recent months. Against the backdrop of unsuccessful manoeuvres to acquire American whiskey rival Brown-Forman during much of the year, the company bought a stake in Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand in April, made a similar move for SipMargs RTD a month later, then set about the purchase of Kentucky-based Garrard County Distilling Co in June.
Its biggest acquisition profile-wise occurred last month, when it bought UK-based Au Vodka for a reported US$675m.
Should the takeover of Berentzen proceed, Sazerac’s vodka portfolio would consist of Puschkin alongside Au and Svedka, the latter moving across from Constellation Brands in late 2024.
