Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev) takeover of SABMiller last year creates opportunities for the number three beer company in the world, Heineken, which would move up to number two spot, albeit a distant second when the AB InBev/SABMiller merger is finalized later this year.
The merger of AB InBev and SABMiller has forced AB InBev to dispose-off some of SABMiller’s joint-venture partnerships in key markets in order to appease competition regulators, where their combined market power would have made them a monopoly. AB InBev agreed to divest itself of the 58% stake SABMiller held in MillerCoors in the US, agreeing to sell it back to Molson Coors, SABMiller’s joint-venture partner. Similarly, AB InBev has agreed to sell SABMiller’s stake in Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands to Asahi Group Holdings of Japan and SABMiller’s 49% stake in CR Snow to China Resources (Beer Holdings) Ltd, SABMiller’s joint-venture partner.