Ansa buys into Bahamian beer, sends delegation to Jamaica

Ansa McAl continues its regional expansion campaign, as it announced its acquisition of a stake in a Bahamian-owned beverage company and a visit to Jamaica, seeking out business opportunities.

The announcements came in separate releases on Wednesday.

Ansa said it finalised its acquisition of a stake in the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Co Ltd (BBBCL).

As part of the agreement, BBBCL will use its manufacturing facilities and route-to-market system to produce beverages from Carib’s portfolio.

“As the leading independent brewer in the Caribbean, rich in history, culture, and taste, Carib Brewery has crafted a superior and consistent portfolio across 33 countries from its four breweries in TT, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis and Florida. Through its Carib trademark family, the Carib brand exists to unleash Caribbean fun into the world,” the release said.

BBBCL was established in 2007, with its first beer – Sands – named after the company’s owner James “Jimmy” Sands. It produces nine brands and also distributes several global beer brands throughout the Bahamas.

Last April, Ansa received final regulatory approval from the Bahamian Central Bank to proceed with acquiring equity interest in the company.

Last week, in a release, Ansa said it completed the acquisition of the minority interest and allotted ordinary share capital of the company after Ansa and BBBCL entered into a shareholders’ agreement.

In a separate release, Ansa said a team led by group CEO Anthony N Sabga III visited Jamaican private and public stakeholders representing various business sectors.

It was Sabga's first visit since becoming CEO in January 2020.

The delegation met with Senator Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, and several other technocrats at the ministry.

“Discussions focused on Ansa McAl’s disclosure of an investment of over J$150 million in retooling Jamaican operations to drive further efficiencies and capacity expansion,” the release said.

Hill lauded Ansa for investing in Jamaicans, and ensuring people were gainfully employed, saying Ansa was an example of the kinds of companies needed in Jamaica.

Berger Paints Jamaica Ltd is the largest paint manufacturer in the English-speaking Caribbean, the release said, with 95 per cent of the company’s products manufactured in Jamaica.

Ansa acquired Lewis Berger Overseas Holdings, a major shareholder of all three Berger companies in TT, Barbados and Jamaica, in 2017.

Ansa also supplies large volumes of bleach, chlorine gas and chlorine to industrial and commercial customers through Ansa Chemicals Jamaica Ltd, and is also the supplier of chlorine to the National Water Company in Jamaica.