Asahi Group Holdings, Japan’s largest brewer which bid and eventually bought some of SABMiller’s European brands (Peroni, Grolsch and London’s Meantime) on sale from AB InBev in February may yet be itching to buy more of SABMiller’s remaining brands in eastern Europe.
According to a report in the Sunday Times of London, the Japanese brewer is mulling a $7.3bn bid for SABMiller’s central and eastern European assets, including Pilsner Urquell.
Anheuser-Busch InBev has agreed to Asahi Group Holding’s offer to buy European brands, Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime for €2.55bn ($2.9bn), clearing another hurdle to win over European competition regulators in its efforts to acquire SABMiller.
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Belgian-based brewer told European competition regulators it would sell beer brands including Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands to win early approval for the takeover of its rival, SABMiller.
Asahi Group Holdings, a Japanese brewer has offered to acquire SABMiller’s Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands, in a deal valued at $2.9bn.
AB InBev has been looking to dispose of the brands since taking over SABMiller, in a bid to address competition concerns European regulators may have about the merger.
Singapore based conglomerate, Fraser & Neave (F&N) have expressed interest in acquiring SABMiller’s two European beer brands, Peroni and Grolsch, adding to a list of global companies that have shown interest in the brands.
The two brands are being sold by AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer and acquirer of SABMiller, in order to address European regulatory concerns about its merger with SABMiller in Europe.
Fraser & Neave operates food, drink and publishing businesses in Asia and formerly owned Asia Pacific Breweries, which it sold to Dutch brewer, Heineken NV in 2012.
A takeover bid of SABMiller’s two European brands appears to be brewing.
Asahi Group Holdings, Japan’s largest brewer, said on Tuesday that it was considering making a bid for Peroni and Grolsch brands, two of SABMiller’s prized European possessions.
The announcement sent Asahi’s shares tumbling by 2.4 per cent in early Tokyo Trading.
