AB InBev Offers to Dispose of SABMIller’s Central and Eastern European Businesses
Anheuser-Busch InBev has submitted an updated package of commitments to the European Commission in line with its approach to proactively address potential regulatory considerations regarding its its £71 billion acquisition of SABMiller.
AB InBev has offered to divest all of SABMiller’s assets in Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland). AB InBev has already agreed to sell the Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands and their related businesses for €2.55 billion to Asahi Group of Japan.
The assets in Central and Eastern Europe include a number of top brands in their markets and are expected to attract considerable interest from potential buyers.
In line with AB InBev’s ambition to close the overall transaction during the second half of 2016, the company has made this additional commitment in Phase 1 of the European Commission enquiry.
The proposed divestments are subject to review and approval by the European Commission and conditional on the successful closing of the recommended acquisition of SABMiller by AB InBev.
