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GUNSTER YOAKLEY LEADS PIVOTAL $30 MILLION SALE FOR IMPERIAL BRANDS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2008) — The law firm of Gunster Yoakley,
represented Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based Imperial Brands, the U.S.
subsidiary of the French distilled spirits maker, Groupe Belvedere, in
the $30 million sale of its vinegar and cooking wine business to the
Japanese company, Mizkan. The sale was completed in April 2008.
Prior to the sale, Imperial Brands said it was the largest industrial
supplier of vinegar and cooking wine products in the United States. The
company sold the business to focus on its core products, including
Sobieski, a premium vodka with a competitive price point launched last
year in the U.S. and also the best-selling vodka in Poland. The complex
transaction utilized attorneys from a wide array of legal practice
areas, including corporate, tax, real estate, environmental and land
use.
“On a global level, this is a transaction that will undoubtedly have a
significant impact on the spirits industry,” said Nicholas Robbins, a
corporate attorney at Gunster Yoakley who was centrally involved in the
deal. “Imperial Brands President and CEO Chester Brandes is quickly
creating a dynamic, powerful presence with Sobieski by educating
consumers that premium-quality vodka can be affordable. It’s been
incredibly rewarding to work with him and his team on this important,
complex transaction.”
In addition to Robbins, Gunster Yoakley’s legal team on this project
included corporate attorneys Michael Mitrione and Mark Brody,
environmental attorney Robert Malinoski and real estate attorney Bob
Graham.
About Gunster Yoakley
Gunster Yoakley is Palm Beach County’s
oldest and largest full-service law firm. Established in 1925, the firm
offers a broad range of legal services to its impressive client base of
businesses, institutions, local governments and prominent individuals.
Gunster Yoakley has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami,
Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and West Palm Beach.
Gunster Yoakley is home to 130 attorneys and more than 200 dedicated
support staff providing counsel to clients through numerous practice
groups including corporate, litigation, real estate, and trusts and
estates. For more information, visit www.gunster.com, or call (800)
749-1980.
About Imperial Brands
Imperial Brands Inc. is an importer and marketer of distinctive wines
and spirits. Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., it is a U.S.
subsidiary of Belvédère S.A., one of Europe’s largest producers and
distributors of white spirits and wines. Belvédère S.A. operates
production and distribution units in Poland, France, Bulgaria,
Lithuania and the United States and additionally owns subsidiaries in
Russia, Canada, Spain, Scandinavia and Brazil. Belvédère S.A. purchased
Marie Brizard & Roger International in July 2006.
Imperial Brands Inc. also owns Florida Distillers Co., which has two
production facilities located in Florida. This provides bottling
capacity of 5 million (9-liter) cases of distilled spirits for the
company and a base on which to coordinate its expansion across the U.S.
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