AB InBev, the beermaker in talks to buy SABMiller for $107 billion, is considering selling the Peroni and Grolsch brands as it works to gain regulatory clearance to combine the world’s biggest brewers, people familiar with the matter said. No deal has been struck and a sale isn’t certain. That deal, which should ease competition concerns in the USA, includes the American rights for Peroni and Grolsch. (TAP-A,TAP) for $12 billion in cash.
Advertisement
While A-B InBev has said it expects its purchase of SAB to complete during the second half of next year, the high number of market authorities that will run the rule over the transaction suggests completion may fall into early-2017.
Regulators use 30% as a market share benchmark to measure whether mergers and acquisitions would affect competition.
Unnamed City sources told The Sunday Times yesterday that ABI was reviewing SABMiller’s European premium brands and had already briefed its advisers about the sale.
As of November 28, 2015, the consensus forecast amongst 28 polled investment analysts covering SABMiller had it that investors should hold their position in the company.
No price for the Peroni and Grolsch brands has been indicated.
Advertisement
The sale would help enable AB InBev to keep its own major brands, such as Budweiser and Leffe. The takeover will allow Belgium’s AB InBev, which also makes Stella Artois, to tap into SABMiller’s strength in fast-growing African and Asian markets.
