AB InBev has submitted a refreshed package of commitments to the European Commission including the disposal of a number of leading European beer brands, as it moves to wrap-up its £71bn acquisition of SABMiller.
In a bid to address potential regulatory issues, the company has offered to sell off SABMiller’s assets in Central and Eastern Europe, including all assets in Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
Brands affected include Pilsner Urquell, Kozel, Radegast, Primus, Klasik, Birell, and Fénix in the Czech Republic; Lech and Tyskie in Poland; Topvar in Slovakia; and Dreher in Hungary, among other local brands.
AB InBev announced on 19 April that it has accepted Japanese brewer Asahi’s offer to buy Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime Brewing Company, pending completion of the SABMiller deal. London-based Meantime was bought by SABMiller in May for an estimated £50m as part of a strategic move to tap into the craft beer scene.
The proposed divestments are subject to review and approval by the European Commission and conditional on the successful closing on the acquisition of SABMiller by AB InBev.
A decision on the deal is expected from the European Commission on 24 May. AB InBev says it is keen to complete the deal by the second half of 2016.
