AB InBev announced today the divesture of SAB Miller’s interest in the Peroni, Grolschand Meantimebrand families and associated businesses in Italy, the Netherlands, the UK.
The transaction values the business at EUR 2.55 billion on a debt free/cash free basis, and was originally announced on 10 February 2016.
Buyer is the Japanese Asahi Group Holdings, a global spirits, beverage, and food company, which is best known for its beers with the same name. Asahi Breweries, Ltd. is beer market leader in Japan with about 38% market share in 2014, followed by Kirinwith 35% and Sapporowith 15%. Because of an ageing population and decreasing sales in the domestic market, Japanese brewers seek to escape with investment in foreign markets.
Asahi is also said to be interested in SAB Miller’s East European unit valued at about $5 billion.
