Speculations over a sale of AB InBev’s Asian business have been given a new impetus with a new report by the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reported that the world’s largest brewer has appointed JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley to work on a potential initial public offering, according to a person familiar with the matter. Other banks could be added to the process at a later stage.
As already reported three weeks ago, AB InBev considers a public listing and a partial sale of its Asian business in order to help relieving its heavy debt burden. US$109 billion in debts stem mainly from the acquisition of rival SABMiller in 2016. The said IPO could bring between US$ 5 and 10 billion into the coffers of the heavily indebted brewing conglomerate (inside.beer, 14.1.2019).
