Private Equity: Portfolio
Altamar Brands develops luxury brands in the premium segment of the spirits industry with a focus on brands that change perception. The Company currently has three brands in its portfolio: Right, a luxury gin from Sweden; Kubler, a Swiss absinthe; and Tequila Ocho, a single-estate tequila. Altamar was founded in 2005 by W.L. Lyons Brown, III, a fifth generation member of the Brown-Forman family, the distillers of Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort. Mr. Brown has been in the spirits business for over 20 years, managing enterprises in both Europe and the United States. For more information, please visit www.altamarbrands.com.
In July of 2009, Altamar Brands announced that it closed on a financing round from First Beverage Group and Wirtz Beverage Group. Additionally, both William Anderson, chairman and CEO of First Beverage Group, and Danny Wirtz, Vice President, Spirits Marketing and Salesand son of Wirtz Beverage Group's president, W. Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz, joined Altamar's Advisory Committee.
"We are thrilled to gain the backing of William and Rocky and feel their participation is a clear validation of our company's business model and vision," stated W.L. Lyons Brown, III, chief executive officer of Altamar Brands. "We are continuing to develop our existing luxury brands in new and existing markets across the U.S. and U.K. and are heartened by the solid reception they are receiving in this difficult economic environment. We will also look to expand our portfolio with brands that meet our development strategy criteria and where we think we can be a valuable partner."