Acquisitions, Divestitures, and Business Transformation |
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| Business Combinations [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES, AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION | ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES, AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION Acquisitions
Nelson’s Green Brier
In May 2019, we increased our ownership interest in Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, LLC (“Nelson’s Green Brier”) to 75%, resulting in consolidation of the business and recognition of a 25% noncontrolling interest. This acquisition included a portfolio of award-winning, Tennessee-based craft bourbon and whiskey products. The preliminary fair value of the business combination was allocated primarily to goodwill, trademarks, inventory, and property, plant, and equipment. The results of operations of Nelson’s Green Brier are reported in the Wine and Spirits segment and have been included in our consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition.
We recognized a gain of $11.8 million for the year ended February 29, 2020, related to the remeasurement of our previously held 20% equity interest in Nelson’s Green Brier to the acquisition-date fair value. This gain is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses within our consolidated results of operations.
Other acquisitions
During the year ended February 28, 2019, we completed the acquisitions of other businesses, including the Four Corners Brewing Company LLC business, which included a portfolio of high-quality, dynamic, and bicultural, Texas-based craft beers (“Four Corners”), and a business in Italy, which provided additional processing and sourcing capabilities for our Italian wine portfolio. The purchase price for the Four Corners acquisition was primarily allocated to goodwill, property, plant, and equipment, and trademarks, plus an earn-out over five years based on the performance of the brands. The purchase price for the acquired business in Italy was primarily allocated to a production facility, vineyards, and inventory. The results of operations of these acquired businesses are reported in the respective segment and have been included in our consolidated results of operations from their respective date of acquisition.
During the year ended February 28, 2018, we completed the acquisitions of other businesses, including the Funky Buddha Brewery LLC business, which included a portfolio of high-quality, Florida-based craft beers (“Funky Buddha”), and the Schrader Cellars, LLC business, which included a collection of highly-rated, limited-production fine wines. The total combined purchase price for these acquisitions was $149.8 million. The purchase price for each acquisition was primarily allocated to goodwill and trademarks. In addition, the purchase price for Funky Buddha includes an earn-out over five years based on the performance of the brands. The results of operations of these acquired businesses are reported in the respective segment and have been included in our consolidated results of operations from their respective date of acquisition.
Divestitures
Black Velvet Divestiture
On November 1, 2019, we sold the Black Velvet Canadian Whisky business and the brand’s associated production facility, along with a subset of Canadian whisky brands produced at that facility, and related inventory at a transaction value of $266.3 million (the “Black Velvet Divestiture”). We received cash proceeds of $269.7 million, subject to estimated working capital adjustments. The cash proceeds were utilized to partially repay the 2.00% November 2017 Senior Notes (as defined in Note 13). The following table summarizes the net gain recognized in connection with this divestiture:
Sale of Accolade Wine Investment
In May 2018, we completed the sale of our remaining interest in our previously-owned Australian and European business (the “Accolade Wine Investment”) for A$149.1 million, or $113.6 million. We received cash proceeds, net of direct costs to sell, of $111.7 million. This interest consisted of an investment accounted for under the cost method and available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities. We recognized net gains of $0.4 million and $99.8 million in connection with this transaction for the years ended February 29, 2020, and February 28,2019, respectively. These net gains are included in income (loss) from unconsolidated investments.
Business transformation
We have committed to a business transformation strategy which aligns our portfolio with consumer-led premiumization trends and growing segments of the Wine and Spirits and Beer markets.
Wine and Spirits Transaction
In April 2019, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell a portion of our wine and spirits business, including approximately 30 lower-margin, lower-growth wine and spirits brands, wineries, vineyards, offices, and facilities (the “Wine and Spirits Transaction”).
New Wine and Spirits Transactions
In December 2019, we agreed to revise and supersede the Wine and Spirits Transaction. The revisions to the transaction address competitive concerns raised by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) specifically related to the sparkling wine, brandy, dessert wine, and concentrate categories. As a result, the brands Cook’s California Champagne, J. Roget American Champagne, Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy, and our concentrate business will be excluded from the transaction resulting in an adjusted transaction price of approximately $843 million, with the potential to earn an incremental $250 million of contingent consideration if certain brand performance provisions are met over a two-year period after closing (the “Revised Wine and Spirits Transaction”). The Revised Wine and Spirits Transaction is expected to close around the end of first quarter of fiscal 2021, and is subject to required regulatory clearances and governmental review and approval. Additionally, in a separate, but related, transaction, we agreed that upon execution and delivery of a definitive agreement for the Revised Wine and Spirits Transaction, we would enter into an agreement to sell the New Zealand-based Nobilo Wine brand and certain related assets for $130 million (the “Nobilo Wine Transaction”). The Nobilo Wine Transaction is expected to close by the end of second quarter of fiscal 2021 and is subject to FTC and New Zealand regulatory review and approval. Completion of the Nobilo Transaction is also conditioned on completion of the Revised Wine and Spirits Transaction. We expect to use the net cash proceeds from the Revised Wine and Spirits Transaction and the Nobilo Wine Transaction (collectively, the “New Wine and Spirits Transactions”) primarily to reduce outstanding borrowings.
We have communicated our intent to retain the brands Cook’s California Champagne and J. Roget American Champagne contemplated under the Wine and Spirits Transaction and the FTC is currently reviewing our business plans to support these brands in the future.
Other Wine and Spirits Transactions
We are pursuing other opportunities to divest the Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy brand and concentrate business excluded from the Revised Wine and Spirits Transaction to companies with more aligned business strategies (the “Other Wine and Spirits Transactions”).
Ballast Point Transaction
In December 2019, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our Ballast Point craft beer business, including a number of its associated production facilities and brewpubs, (the “Ballast Point Transaction”). See “Subsequent Event - Divestiture” below.
Assets held for sale
In contemplation of the transactions noted above, certain net assets have met the held for sale criteria as of February 29, 2020. For the year ended February 29, 2020, long-lived asset impairments of $449.7 million were recognized. For additional information refer to Note 7.
The carrying value of assets held for sale consists of the following:
Wine and spirits optimization
We recognized charges in connection with our ongoing efforts to gain efficiencies and reduce our cost structure within the Wine and Spirits segment as follows:
Subsequent event
Divestiture
In March 2020, we sold the Ballast Point craft beer business. The net cash proceeds from the Ballast Point Transaction were primarily utilized to reduce outstanding borrowings.
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