AB InBev could be forced to divest Grolsch UK, Peroni UK, Distell, Efes, Interbrew Italia and Dutch brands
Anheuser-Busch InBev may need to make further asset disposals worth almost USD 7bn, to appease regulators worldwide as it takes over rival brewing group SABMiller, The Sunday Telegraph reported. If the regulators prove demanding, the combined group may be forced to divest its interests in Turkey-based brewer Efes, Interbrew Italia, Grolsch and Peroni beers in the UK and its beer brands in the Netherlands and China, the report said.
The 24% Efes stake could be worth USD 1.25bn, Interbrew Italia and the Dutch brands USD 400m, the UK beer brands USD 1bn and the 49% stake in the China-based CR Snow brewing business USD 3.1bn, the report said, citing estimates from Berenberg analysts.
AB InBev is believed already to have contacted China Resources Enterprise to gauge the Chinese state-owned group’s interest and measure its response to the SABMiller merger, the item reported.
Berenberg believes AB InBev may also seek a buyer for the USD 750m stake SABMiller owns in the South Africa-based wine producer Distell, the item reported, adding that additional smaller sales or licensing agreements are also likely.
AB InBev has already agreed a USD 12bn sale of SABMiller’s 58% interest in US-based MillerCoors to joint venture partner Molson Coors, the item noted.
Sunday Telegraph