MADRID (Bloomberg) - Bacardi Ltd., the maker of Bacardi rum and Grey Goose vodka, hired banks for its first sale of bonds in euros, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, a day after issuing $500 million of notes.

Ralph Morera, the Bermuda-based company's chief financial officer, will meet with bondholders in Europe between March 27 and April 1, according to an invitation to investors seen by Bloomberg. Meetings are planned for Frankfurt, Paris and London, the invitation said.

Amy Federman, a spokeswoman for Bacardi, declined to comment on the deal.

Barclays Capital, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, BNP Paribas SA, Calyon, Lloyds Banking Group plc. and Banco Santander SA are managing the issue, according to a banker with direct knowledge of the deal, who declined to be identified before the deal is complete.

Bacardi's dollar bond sale yesterday was split between five-year 7.45 percent notes that priced to yield 575 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasuries, and 10-year 8.2 percent debt that yields 550 basis points more than benchmarks, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

The debt is rated Baa1 by Moody's Investors Service, the third-lowest level of investment quality, and one step lower at BBB by Standard & Poor's.