One of a growing set of insurgent premium water brands was taken off the table this morning when Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) announced that it had agreed to buy CORE Nutrition, the maker of CORE Hydration and CORE Organics, for $525 million.
Wholesale sales for CORE were between $70 and $80 million, according to a source close to the deal; retail sales were close to $200 million according to the brand. According to the announcement, KDP expects to realize $90 million in tax benefits in the deal.
“KDP has been an outstanding partner for CORE and I am certain that, under its ownership, CORE will continue to see tremendous long-term success,” said founder Lance Collins in a press release. “I am a strong supporter of the KDP strategy and business model and am looking forward to being a shareholder in the company.”
Core was founded in 2015 by Collins, a serial beverage entrepreneur known for starting brands like Fuze and Body Armor, in partnership with music producer Lukasz Gottwald, also known as Dr Luke. Other investors included celebrities like Katy Perry, Juicy J. and Diplo, as well as a variety of Hollywood executives. One company that benefited from the sale, albeit indirectly, was KDP rival Coca-Cola Co., which owned a stake in Core via incubator L.A. Libations. An early investor and distributor of Core, L.A. Libations is partially owned by Coke. Retailer 7-Eleven was also an investor, along with food and beverage entrepreneur Jason Cohen.
Last year, the company raised nearly $40 million.
The deal comes amid a reshuffling of the allied, independent brands distributed by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which was taken over by Keurig earlier this year. Pressure increased on KDP to buy Core when Fiji, another premium water company in the allied brand portfolio, cut ties with KDP from a distribution standpoint. Another allied brand, Body Armor, is also leaving the fold, having agreed to a minority investment from the Coca-Cola Co. in August. The company purchased Bai in 2016 and owns a stake in High Brew coffee as well. Vita Coco remains independent but is widely distributed by KDP.
The transaction leaves independent water brand Essentia Water as an increasingly likely takeover target.
According to the release, Whipstitch Capital served as a financial advisor to CORE, while Evercore Partners worked on the buy side with KDP.
BevNET will bring further comment and analysis of the deal throughout the day. Full press release is below.
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BURLINGTON, Mass. and PLANO, Texas, Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Keurig Dr Pepper (NYSE: KDP) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CORE® Nutrition LLC at a value of $525 million, or approximately $435 million net of anticipated tax benefits. Founded in 2015, the rapidly growing Core® Nutrition portfolio includes CORE® Hydration, a premium, nutrient-enhanced bottled water, and CORE® Organic, USDA-certified organic enhanced fruit hydration, both currently distributed by KDP.
The acquisition of CORE® Nutrition will be funded with KDP common stock, net of KDP’s current equity investment and certain other contractual adjustments. The Company expects the transaction to be neutral to KDP’s adjusted diluted earnings per share in 2019 and accretive thereafter.
CORE® has been a KDP allied brand since 2016, with KDP currently managing approximately two-thirds of the brand’s U.S. distribution. Net sales of all CORE® beverages have grown at an average annualized rate of approximately 115% over the past three years, with current retail sales[1] across both measured and unmeasured channels estimated in excess of $200 million in the latest 52 weeks.
Commenting on the announcement, KDP CEO Bob Gamgort stated, “CORE® has been a valued and successful allied brand partner, and we are pleased that this on-trend beverage will become part of our owned KDP family of brands. Our sales and distribution capabilities have helped fuel significant growth for the CORE® portfolio. Through this transaction we intend to realize the full growth potential for the business.”
Lance Collins, founder of CORE® commented, “We created CORE® to meet the increasing desires for innovative, enhanced water offerings with functional benefits for today’s modern consumer. KDP has been an outstanding partner for CORE® and I am certain that, under its ownership, CORE® will continue to see tremendous long-term success. I am a strong supporter of the KDP strategy and business model and am looking forward to being a shareholder in the company.”
Following the closing of the acquisition, both CORE® Hydration and CORE® Organic will continue to be distributed primarily through KDP’s company-owned direct store delivery network and independent distributor network, while certain select existing CORE® Nutrition distribution partners are expected to maintain their channel coverage.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of 2018. Evercore acted as financial advisor to KDP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal counsel. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal counsel for CORE® Nutrition and Whipstitch Capital provided a fairness opinion.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, qualification or exemption under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
[1] Retail sales based on IRI All-Outlet + Convenience channels and Company estimates for unmeasured channels.
Investor Contacts
Maria Sceppaguercio
Keurig Dr Pepper
T: 781-418-8136 / maria.sceppaguercio@keurig.com
Steve Alexander
Keurig Dr Pepper
T: 972-673-6769 / steve.alexander@dpsg.com
Media Contact
Katie Gilroy
Keurig Dr Pepper
T: 781-418-3345 / katie.gilroy@keurig.com
ABOUT KEURIG DR PEPPER
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading coffee and beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $11 billion. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. The Company maintains an unrivaled distribution system that enables its portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands to be available nearly everywhere people shop and consume beverages. With a wide range of hot and cold beverages that meet virtually any consumer need, KDP key brands include Keurig®, Dr Pepper®, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters®, Canada Dry®, Snapple®, Bai®, Mott’s® and The Original Donut Shop®. The Company employs more than 25,000 employees and operates more than 120 offices, manufacturing plants, warehouses and distribution centers across North America. For more information, visit www.keurigdrpepper.com.