<http://schema.org/description>
"Up-start soft-drinks maker Frucor will list on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges next month in a move widely expected to raise funds for future acquisitions.Frucor will begin trading on June 13 with a capitalisation of around A$200m, although recent global stockmarket turmoil makes the exact valuation difficult to estimate.Frucor is tipped to strengthen its hold on the soft-drinks market in Australia - as it has already done in New Zealand.The company bought Lion Nathan&amp;#39;s loss-making Pepsi NZ last year and is thought to be interested in buying Pepsi Australia - which Lion also has up for sale.Schweppes Australia is also thought to be a target.Frucor chief executive Mark Coswill will not comment on specifics but says all acquisitions are possible.Frucor has been a revelation in the Australasian soft-drinks market appearing from relative obscurity as part of the Apple and Pear Board in the 1990s.It had a couple of staple products including Fresh Up and Just Juice but its major break came with the launch three years ago of V, an energy drink.Marketed in a similar way to Red Bull, V has taken the New Zealand market by storm with a 60% market share and is doing a similar roaring trade in Australia, where it was launched last year.In 1998 Frucor fruit juices accounted for 77% the company&amp;#39;s business and new energy beverages just 12%. But by 2001 fruit juices are expected to account for just 27% of sales and energy drinks 51%. Company sales have risen at an average of 40% a year for the past three years.Frucor is also planning a push into other Asian, European and American markets with V in the future. &amp;quot;The market for these drinks was established in Europe 12 years ago, and in New Zealand three years ago. Fads last one year, little more,&amp;quot; says Coswill. &amp;quot;From 20 years experience in consumer foods groups in New Zealand, I am sure this will be a long-term prospect.&amp;quot;David Robertson"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.just-drinks.com/news/frucor-set-to-float-to-raise-funds-for-future-acquisitions_id75452.aspx>