France's Marie Brizard pledges to cooperate with competition inquiry

Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits SA

11/04/2019 08:25

April 11 (Reuters) - Sobieski vodka brand owner, Marie
Brizard Wine and Spirits (MBWS)  MBWS.PA , said on Thursday it
would cooperate with France's anti-trust authority after raids
on companies in the wines and spirits sector.
    France's anti-trust watchdog said on Wednesday it had raided
companies suspected of possible anti-competitive practices, not
disclosing the names of those targeted or the specific rules
that may have been violated.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N21S2V7
    The raids did not imply the companies were guilty, the
watchdog had said.
    MBWS, who also owns the William Peel whisky brand, said in a
statement it had supplied all of the information in its
possession. It also reiterated its commitment to respect all of
the rules and regulations to which it is subject.
    MBWS, struggling to turn around its declining business, said
last month it expects its 2018 earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation to remain negative at 28 million
euros.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nFWN21C0RW
    Shares in the company fell 0.51 percent by 0720 GMT.

 (Reporting by Piotr Lipinski in Gdynia
Editing by Keith Weir)
 ((piotr.lipinski@thomsonreuters.com; +48 58 772 00 86;))