The Amsterdam stock exchange saw Rotterdam-based juice and soft drink bottler Refresco Gerber BV raise $597m this year, in the third Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Joint global coordinators to oversee the IPO were Credit Suisse Group AG and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Established in 1999, majority owned by Tamoa, Ferskur and 3i Group, the company sold 37.8 million shares, around 47% of the total, at €14.50 per share before the possible option of over-allotment. Refresco was valued at €1.19bn after the Amsterdam stock exchange opened today.

Operating 27 bottling plants across nine countries, Refresco plans to double that number in five years time with the help of acquisitions, but only after it repays a part of its debt using the proceeds, as per its CEO Hans Roelofs.

This year, spirits maker Lucas Bols BV made its debut in Amsterdam along with GrandVision BV, optician chain owner.