Two Dutch Liquor Titans Unite: Nolet and Lucas Bols Seal a €269.5M Deal
In a power move, Dutch dynasties Nolet Group and Lucas Bols have laid down their cards: they’re joining forces. Nolet, already clutching a 29.9% stake in Lucas Bols since its 2015 IPO, is upping the ante. The top brass at Lucas Bols — the CEO, CFO, and Supervisory Board Chair — collectively own a 5.4% slice of this liquor empire.
Nolet’s HollandsGlorie B.V. and the historic distillery—whose roots trace back to 1575, if you buy that—are serving up an all-cash offer of €18 per share for Lucas Bols. Do the math and that’s a cool €269.5 million, a premium that’s turning heads and making shareholders giddy.
Why go private? Both parties are on the same page: Lucas Bols will thrive more as a private entity, focused on its long game. If Nolet hits that magic 95% ownership post-settlement, they’ll take it to 100%, no questions asked. If they land between 84-94.9%, expect some corporate gymnastics—a merger or asset sale might be on the menu.
René Hooft Graafland, the overseer at Lucas Bols, vouched for the deal’s solid footing and its lucrative offer for shareholders. He underscored Nolet’s long-term vision and unwavering support as the pillars for this merger, after meticulous vetting of all strategic options.
Carel Nolet, the bigwig at Nolet Group, painted the merger as a historic unification of Dutch distillery excellence. “Lucas Bols fills a gap in our portfolio and amplifies our brand power,” he remarked. The plan? Lucas Bols will run under the Nolet umbrella but keep its own identity, brand arsenal, and leadership intact.
