UK brewing force, Scottish & Newcastle plc, has posted that on November 03 it completed the sale of S&N Retail to Spirit Amber Bidco Limited. Spirit Amber also announced on November 03 that it has acquired S&N’s managed pubs, restaurants and lodges business for ?2,510m (US$4.3 billion). Spirit Amber has changed its name to Spirit Group. Tony Campbell, chairman of Spirit, said: "We are delighted with the timely completion of the deal. With an estate comprising some 2,500 pubs, Spirit will be the leading player in the managed pub sector.



The sale has been completed following approval of the transaction by S&N shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting last week. Completion of the transaction makes Spirit Amber the largest independent-managed pub operator in the UK.

05 November, 2003