MADRID--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
For the third time Spanish Courts refused Bacardi´s attempt to challenge the ownership of the famous trademark for Cuban rum
Madrid, February 3, 2011
The Supreme Court of Spain today confirmed the Havana Club joint venture's ownership of the Havana Club trademark in Spain. This is the third time the Spanish courts have rejected Bacardi's challenge to the joint venture's rights over the trademark. The joint venture's ownership was previously recognised by the Spanish lower court in 2005 and then again on appeal by the Provincial Court of Madrid in 2007.
Ian FitzSimons, General Counsel, Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI): "This decision is a victory for the Havana Club brand. This was a blatant attempt by our competitor, Bacardi, to claim rights in a trademark more than 30 years after an unused registration had expired. Our business in Spain was built from scratch and today sells more than 2.7 million litres in the country."
"This judgment allows us to continue to develop in Spain our great range of authentic Cuban rums", said Philippe Coutin, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Spain.
Havana Club trademark is well-known in Spain, registered in more than 120 countries around the world and has become one of the most valuable brands in the spirits industry. Havana Club Cuban rum is the number 2 international rum worldwide (excluding the US market) and is also listed as the third highest brand on IWSR's list of Elite brands.
About Havana Club
Havana Club is amongst the
fastest growing spirit brands worldwide, having experienced double digit
growth nearly every year since the 1993 joint venture between the Cuban
company Corporation Cuba Ron S.A. and the Pernod Ricard Group.
The
sales of Havana Club reached 3.5 million 9-liter cases in the fiscal
year ending June 2010.
In 2009, Havana Club ranked 23rd in
the Impact Top 100 (source: Impact database of international brands of
premium international spirits).
The company is based in
Havana and exports to 124 countries throughout the world, with the
exception of the USA, where Cuban products are banned due to the trade
embargo.
Please visit our website for more information: www.havana-club.com
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s
co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of € 7,081
million in 2009/10. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod,
the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic
growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin &
Sprit (2008).
Pernod Ricard holds one of the most
prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard
pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet
Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum,
Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët
champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and
Graffigna wines.
Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of
18,000 people covering 70 markets worldwide. Pernod Ricard is strongly
committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible
consumption.
Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are
based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurship spirit,
mutual trust and a sense of ethics.
Pernod Ricard is listed
on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and
is a member of the CAC 40 index.
Please visit our website
for more information: www.pernod-ricard.com