Emperador eyes growth of more than a third after 2014 profit climbs on acquisitions

The country’s biggest liquor company grew its earnings in the low single digit last year.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Emperador Inc said its profit rose 5 percent to P6.1 billion last year from P5.8 billion in 2013.

This as revenues climbed 7 percent to P32 billion from P29.8 billion over the same period after the company spent P35 billion last year on acquisitions around the world.

“We have successfully transformed Emperador into a global company after our acquisition of Whyte and Mackay in the United Kingdom and various vineyard and brandy production facilities in Spain,” Emperador chairman Andrew Tan said.

“We see 2015 as the beginning of the rapid expansion of our businesses, both in the domestic and global markets. This year, we expect our revenues to grow by 35 percent,” he added.

Citing Euromonitor International, Emperador said the global brandy market could grow from 2013 to 2018, with volume reaching 195 million cases by the end of that period.

“Out of 100 bottles of brandy sold in the world today, 21 bottles are Emperador. We are set to launch Emperador in several countries in Europe and Africa, and we will be very active in Duty Free travel retail shops globally," said Emperador International managing director Jorge Domecq.

"Depending on the price points required by our clients, we can supply Emperador products from either the Philippines or Spain. With our aggressive pace, we expect our current share in the world brandy market to grow even further," he said.

Emperador chief finance officer Dina Inting said the company closed 2014 with a net cash position of P4.85 billion.

“In spite of spending close to P35 billion overseas last year, we will be debt-free in a few months because we intend to pre-pay our loan using the huge cash pile that is now sitting in our balance sheet. This gives us a lot of room for more acquisitions and expansion activities when opportunities arise in the domestic and global markets," she said.

Emperador president Winston Co said the company will launch 8 major products in the Philippines this year.

“This 2015 will be the busiest and most exciting year for the company," he said.

- Interaksyon

Emperador board approves maiden debt sale to help finance doubling of profit in 2-3 years

Emperador Inc aims to double earnings in the next two to three years as it plans to tap the market to finance expansion.

"The expansion is in line with Emperador’s strategy of diversifying and strengthening its liquor product portfolio as well as its premiumization strategy in the liquor industry," the liquor arm of Andrew Tan-owned Alliance Global Group Inc.

Emperador's profit climbed 17.4 percent to P5.8 billion last year from P5 billion in 2012, bucking the impact of higher excise taxes to remain as the world’s largest selling brandy brand.

To strengthen its capital base and fund its expansion, the company’s board of directors cleared the appointment of global investment banks to advise the firm as it undertakes its maiden debt offering.

Emperador plans to raise an amount equivalent to as much as 70 percent of its stockholders' equity even after it closed last year with P24 billion in cash.

Based on its stockholders' equity of P30.89 billion at end-2013, the leading brandy maker may raise as much as P21.62 billion from its first debt issuance.

Last year, the company embarked on a five-year plan to double sales volume and corner a third of the world market in five years. It is in talks to acquire Diageo’s Whyte and Mackay spirits business but an agreement has yet to be reached.

So far, Emperador has invested P5.8 billion in the most technologically advanced vineyards, distilleries and bodegas in Spain.

This year, the liquor maker is spending P4 billion to boost its production capacity in the Philippines. Besides flagship Emperador, the company also manufactures the Generoso and Emperador Light brandies as well as a line of flavored alcoholic beverages called The Bar.

Emperador sold 33 million cases last year to remain the world's largest selling brandy brand and the largest liquor company in the Philippines. Emperador Brandy comprises seven out of 10 liquor bottles sold in Manila, the company said.

- Interaksyon