KEY TAKEAWAYS: Sazerac invested in 818 Tequila and SIPMARGS, securing exclusive U.S. distribution rights. Hornbeck Offshore and Helix Energy Solutions agreed to merge in an all-stock transaction. The combined offshore company will be headquartered in Covington and Houston under ticker HOS. Hel ix also sold its Gulf shallow-water abandonment business to Houma-based C-Dive for $107.5 million.   New Orleans-based Sazerac and Covington-based Hornbeck Offshore Services each recently announced major transactions, expanding their reach nationally and globally. Sazerac invests in 2 celebrity-backed alcohol brands Sazerac has made two investments in celebrity-backed alcohol brands, with both deals including exclusive U.S. distribution rights. On April 28, Sazerac announced a financial investment in 818 Tequila, the tequila brand founded by reality TV personality and model Kendall Jenner, along with an exclusive U.S. sales and distribution agreement. Terms were not disclosed. 818 Tequila is made in Jalisco, Mexico, at a family-owned distillery. The brand has won over 50 blind-tasting awards across 15 spirits competitions and has posted double-digit growth in the U.S. since 2023, even as the broader tequila market has stayed relatively flat. The deal expands Sazerac’s tequila lineup, which previously included Margaritaville, Peligroso, and Corazón. Tequila is the second-largest spirits category by revenue in the U.S., generating $6.4 billion in total sales including mezcal, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Sara Saunders, Sazerac’s chief marketing officer, said: “Tequila continues to be a bright spot in spirits, driven by strong consumer interest across a growing range of occasions and price points. 818 Tequila stands apart due to its cultural relevance and commercial momentum.” Lanay Jacobs, president of 818 Tequila, said Sazerac “brings the scale, capabilities, and reach to help accelerate our next phase of growth.” Shortly after, Sazerac announced an equity investment and distribution deal with SIPMARGS, a ready-to-drink sparkling margarita brand backed by social media personality Alix Earle and Palm Tree Crew, an investment firm co-founded by DJ and producer Kygo. SIPMARGS makes sparkling margaritas with tequila blanco from Jalisco, real fruit juice, cane sugar, and sparkling water. Sazerac, a family-owned company managed by the Goldring family with over 400 years of history, holds a portfolio of more than 550 brands and has acquired roughly 60 brands over the past decade. Hornbeck Offshore and Helix Energy Solutions Announce All-Stock Merger Covington-based Hornbeck Offshore Services and Houston-based Helix Energy Solutions Group have agreed to merge in an all-stock deal to form a new integrated offshore services company. Hornbeck shareholders will own about 55% of the combined company, while Helix shareholders will hold around 45%. Under the deal, Hornbeck stockholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 10.27167 shares of Helix common stock for each share of Hornbeck stock they own. Both company boards have approved the transaction. In a joint statement, the companies said the combination “will create a recognized leader in offshore operations through a diversified and expanded high-specification fleet of specialty vessels, supported by subsea robotics, well intervention and technical service capabilities, including trenching subsea pipelines and cables.” Hornbeck Offshore said the deal creates a company “well-placed for future growth and sustained shareholder value creation, supported by increased scale, balance sheet strength and robust free cash flow generation.” Todd Hornbeck, chairman, president, and chief executive of Hornbeck, said the deal “will unlock meaningful strategic and operational benefits that enhance our ability to serve customers worldwide and drive significant shareholder value creation.” He added that “the combined company will be a growth-oriented company driven by the desire to provide innovative, high-quality, value-added business solutions with an emphasis on safety and an entrepreneurial culture.” The transaction is expected to generate $75 million or more in annual revenue and cost synergies within three years of closing and is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Todd M. Hornbeck will serve as president and chief executive of the combined company, and the board will include seven directors — four from Hornbeck and three from Helix. The company will be headquartered in both Covington, Louisiana and Houston, Texas, and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HOS. Helix Sells Shallow-Water Unit to Chouest Group‘s C-Dive Alongside the merger announcement, Helix sold its Gulf of America shallow-water abandonment business to Houma-based C-Dive LLC, part of the Chouest Group, for $107.5 million in cash. The sale officially closed May 1. The divested unit provided services including commercial diving, heavy lift, offshore decommissioning, and project management for clients on the Gulf of America shelf. C-Dive’s parent, the Chouest Group, operates globally across energy services, specialized engineering, shipbuilding, subsea services, and advanced technology manufacturing. G.F. Gay Le Breton is managing director for Chaffe Associates Inc., working in the corporate finance activities of the firm. Mitch Murray is a corporate finance analyst with the firm. Investment banking services are provided by Chaffe Securities Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. For more information, visit http://chaffe-associates.com. ...read more read less