Distilled Spirits Makers MGP Ingredients Acquires Luxco for $475 Million

MGP Ingredients - MGP Acquires Luxco for $475 Million

MGP has been dipping its toe into the distilled spirits consumer space for the last several years with launches of TILL American Wheat Vodka, George Remus Bourbon, Eight & Sand Bourbon and Rossville Rye. Today’s announcement that MGP Ingredients with headquarters in Atchison, Kansas has acquired Luxco, Inc with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri means they have officially taken a full dive into the distilled spirits consumer pool.

MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Luxco, Inc., and its affiliated companies. Luxco is a leading branded beverage alcohol company across various categories, with a more than 60-year business heritage. For the unaudited twelve month period ended October 31, 2020, Luxco generated approximate net revenues of $202 million and 9-liter case volume of 4.8 million.

Distilled spirits fans and distillers know MGP for their Lawrenceburg, Indiana MGP Distillery. This historic distillery is often referred to as the Lawrenceburg Distillery or the old Seagrams Distillery which is the source of many private label bourbon and rye spirits across the country.

Luxco Acquisition Brings Well Known Spirits Brands and Large Distribution Network Together

MGP Distillery - Seagram's Distillery fermentation tanks, Lawrenceburg, IN — MGP Distillery – Fermentation tanks, Lawrenceburg, IN.

MGP Distillery – Fermentation tanks, Lawrenceburg, IN.

Luxco provides an established platform of extensive operational capabilities and a comprehensive national sales footprint with an attractive portfolio of brands including Ezra Brooks® Bourbon Whiskey, Daviess County® Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Yellowstone® Bourbon Whiskey, El Mayor® Tequila and Everclear®. This transaction will immediately increase MGP’s scale and market position in the branded-spirits sector and strengthen its platform for future growth of higher value-added products. Importantly, the transaction is expected to improve MGP’s gross margin and cash flow generation profile, and management expects EPS to be low to middle single digit percentage accretive in the first full year following its close, excluding one-time transaction expenses.

MGP Ingredients - David Colo — MGP Ingredients President & CEO David Colo.

“Luxco presents a unique opportunity to take a material step towards realizing our long-term strategy. It significantly expands our product line in the higher-value branded-spirits sector and increases our sales and distribution capabilities across all 50 states,” said David Colo, president and CEO of MGP Ingredients, Inc. “We have enormous respect for the platform Luxco has built, and we’re excited to add its portfolio of fast-growing premium distilled spirits brands together with strong, cash-flow generating legacy brands. We welcome Donn and his family into the MGP shareholder base and look forward to growing together.”

“There is a clear strategic fit between Luxco and MGP and I believe this transaction represents a great outcome for Luxco employees and customers,” said Donn Lux, chairman and CEO of Luxco. “I’m excited to continue my involvement with this blend of two well-positioned companies whose strong records of performance and commitment to excellence provide an attractive platform for continued growth.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Luxco shareholders will receive aggregate cash consideration of $238 million, subject to customary adjustments for working capital, net indebtedness and transaction expenses. They will also receive 5.0 million shares of MGP common stock, valued at approximately $238 million based on a 20-day volume-weighted average price as of January 11, 2021. Luxco shareholders will have the right, subject to certain conditions, to nominate up to two of the Company’s nine Board directors with Donn Lux being designated as the Luxco shareholders’ first director following the closing of the transaction.

Lux Row Distillery - Bardstown, Kentucky — Lux Row Distillers – Bardstown, Kentucky

Lux Row Distillers - Entrance via Row of Trees — Lux Row Distillers – Bardstown, Kentucky

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The cash portion of the purchase price, plus transaction-related expenses, will be financed by borrowings under MGP’s existing revolving credit facility. The transaction is anticipated to be completed during the first half of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Nomura Securities International, Inc. acted as exclusive financial adviser to MGP in this transaction. Stinson LLP acted as MGP’s legal counsel. Perella Weinberg Partners acted as exclusive financial adviser to Luxco, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP acted as Luxco’s legal counsel.

In 2018 Luxco opened its first distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Here is a video with much of the events of that day.