AB InBev struck a deal with Japanese Asahi Group to sell its Central and Eastern European SABMiller activities for 7.3 billion euro.
Slower growth in own country
Famous Czech brand Pilsner Urquell is now Asahi’s property, just like Polish brands Tyskie and Lech, and Hungarian Dreher. The entire deal is Asahi’s largest European deal ever and an attempt to compensate the slower growth in its own country.
The deal is also part of AB InBev’s SABMiller acquisition, because it promised to sell SABMiller’s European activities. Its new owner, Asahi, has also previously bought Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime from SABMiller, for 2.5 billion euro.
Asahi’s foreign turnover is now 25 % of its total turnover, when it had only reached 16 % in October. However, the shareholders were not pleased with this new acquisition, shown in its stock price, which plummeted 4.6 % after the deal was announced.
