date:Sep 06, 2013
ined to comment on the situation.
Lucozade and Ribena have annual sales of just over 500 million pounds a year and industry analysts have been expecting a buyer to pay around two times sales.
A decision to sell the businesses directly to Suntory, bypassing a formal auction, would be a blow for private equity houses and other possible trade buyers that had also been lining up potential bids.
The strong cash flows offered by the two soft drinks had been expected to attract private equity houses