Korea Investment joins PAI Partners to acquire PepsiCo’s Tropicana juice brand

Korea Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. has joined the acquisition deal for the Tropicana juice brand owned by PepsiCo and PAI Partners, a French private equity fund company based in Paris. The Korean capital company teamed up with PAI Partners for the financing of the purchase.

As per The Korea Times, PepsiCo agreed to sell Tropicana to the French PEF firm, which has been raising $4.4 billion capital together with Bank of America, Credit Suisse, and Korea Investment & Securities.

"This joint venture with PAI enables us to realize significant upfront value, whilst providing the focus and resources necessary to drive additional long-term growth for these beloved brands," Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a press release at the time it signed a JV deal with PAI Partners last year.

Frédéric Stévenin, PAI's managing partner, also said, "We are also thrilled that PepsiCo will remain involved as our partner in the joint venture as we execute our plans to drive the future success of these brands."

In any case, it was noted that the Korean company is the only participant in the acquisition deal that is based in South Korea. The investment firm is also the lead arranger for the buyout.

For the deal, the financial service company is expected to underwrite mezzanine and senior loans. Moreover, to have a higher chance of winning the deal, Korea Investment's subsidiaries in New York and Hong Kong are said to be working closely with PAI Partners as well, and this cooperation is crucial to the acquisition agreement.

"Korea Investment & Securities aims to expand the firm's global networks and synergy effects as it bolsters joint operations with our overseas branches, focusing on strengthening stellar corporate finance track records," a company official said in a statement.

The Korea Economic Daily mentioned that as PAI Partners kicked off the financing process for the cross-border acquisition that was initially announced last year, JPMorgan will be serving as the PEF firm's advisor for the deal. Once the deal is completed, PepsiCo will still retain a 39% non-controlling stake in its new joint venture with the French private equity fund.