The New York Post reports that a deal may be close for the purchase of Culligan International Co., the water filter and bottled water distributor. The French company that owns Culligan, Veolia Environnement, is talking with Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, a New York buyout firm about a reported $600 to $700 million purchase price. Interestingly, many companies looking at Culligan were uneasy about the purchase because of the complexities of the heavily franchised business and the complexities of dealing with disgruntled Culligan franchisees, who have long complained about the lack support they received from the franchisor.
Posted by franchiselawblog at July 2, 2004 09:34 AM