Pernod Ricard to Acquire Castle Brands for $223 million

Pernod Ricard to Acquire Castle Brands for $223 million 

Castle Brands Shareholders to Receive $1.27 Per Share in Cash, Representing 92% Premium
 to Castle Brands Share Price and 109% Premium to 30-Day Volume Weighted Average Share Price

Pernod Ricard (Euronext Ticker RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and Castle Brands Inc. (NYSE American: ROX), today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Pernod Ricard, through a subsidiary, will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Castle Brands for $1.27 per share in cash, or approximately $223 million, plus the assumption of debt, through a cash tender offer followed by a merger.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Castle Brands Board of Directors, Castle Brands shareholders will receive $1.27 in cash for each outstanding share of Castle Brands common stock they own, representing a 92% premium to Castle Brands' closing share price on August 27, 2019, and a 109% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average share price through such date.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard, stated, 'Through this acquisition we welcome this great brand portfolio, in particular, Jefferson's bourbon whiskey, to the Pernod Ricard family. Bourbon is a key category in the US which is our single most important market. This deal aligns well with our consumer-centric strategy to offer our consumers the broadest line-up of high-quality premium brands. As with our American whiskies Smooth Ambler, Rabbit Hole and TX, we would provide Jefferson's a strong route to market and secure its long-term development, while remaining true to its authentic and innovative character.'

'We are very pleased to reach an agreement with Pernod Ricard, which is the result of months of planning and deliberation by our Board of Directors,' said Richard J. Lampen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Castle Brands. 'We are confident that this transaction, upon closing, will deliver immediate and substantial cash value to our shareholders.'

The merger agreement provides for a cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Castle Brands to be launched shortly. The closing of the tender offer will be subject to certain conditions, including the tender of shares representing at least a majority of Castle Brands' outstanding shares, early termination or expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and other customary conditions. Once the tender offer is successfully completed, Pernod Ricard will acquire all shares not acquired in the tender offer through a second-step merger in which the holders of the outstanding shares of Castle Brands common stock not tendered in the offer will receive the same per share price paid in the tender offer, in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019.

BofA Merrill Lynch acted as financial advisor to Pernod Ricard and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as its legal advisor. Perella Weinberg Partners and Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisors to Castle Brands, Holland & Knight LLP acted as Castle Brands' legal advisor, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as legal advisor to Castle Brands' financial advisors.

Important Information about the Tender Offer
The tender offer described in this press release has not yet commenced. This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of the common stock of Castle Brands or any other securities. At the time the planned tender offer is commenced, a tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and related documents, will be filed by Pernod Ricard and a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), and a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 will be filed by Castle Brands with the SEC. The offer to purchase shares of Castle Brands common stock will only be made pursuant to the offer to purchase, the letter of transmittal and related documents filed as a part of the Schedule TO.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT, THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE OFFER, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING THE TENDER OFFER.

Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these statements (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing such requests to the Information Agent for the offer, which will be named in the tender offer statement. In addition, Castle Brands files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. Castle Brands' filings with the SEC are available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.