Emperador gets P15.2-B loan from HSBC, JP Morgan Chase

MANILA, Philippines - Emperador International Ltd. (EIL), a member of Andrew Tan-led conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), has secured fresh funding from two international banks to fund general corporate purposes.

Emperador Inc., the liquor firm of AGI, said its wholly-owned international unit has availed of a GBP210 million (about P15.2-billion) loan from the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. and JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A.

Emperador said the loan has a tenure of one year with interest pegged at a margin of 1.25 percent per annum.

 “The loan shall be used for general corporate purposes related to the core business of beverage,” Emperador said.

Emperador and wholly owned subsidiary Emperador Distillers Inc. have guaranteed the loan.

Emperador is the top selling spirit in the Philippines with a dominant 50-percent share. It is the company behind brands Emperador, Generoso and Empe-rador Light brandies and a line of flavored alcoholic beverages called The Bar.

The company currently holds the distinction of having the most technologically-advanced vineyard in Spain, which generates 500 percent higher yield than average Spanish vineyards.

Since 2013, Emperador has acquired over a thousand hectares of prime vineyard land in Spain.

The liquor firm is part of Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc., which is also into property (Megaworld Group), fastfood (McDonald’s franchise operator Golden Arches Development Corp.) and hotels and casino (Travellers International Hotel Group Inc.).