Japanese brewer Asahi has entered into negotiations with Anheuser-Busch, with a view to acquiring the Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands for a sum of €2.55bn.
Anheuser-Busch has granted Asahi a period of exclusivity for the deal, as it continues to seek a buyer for some of its premium brands in order to appease competition authorities with respect to the $106bn takeover of SABMiller.
SABMiller itself only acquired London craft brewer Meantime in May 2015, but Anheuser-Busch now seems willing to sacrifice the company to facilitate the takeover, and create the world’s largest brewing group. The combined company would generate annual revenues of $64bn and retain brands including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois.
Anheuser-Busch InBev chief executive officer Carlos Brito said: “We are pleased to have received this binding offer from Asahi on the Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands and businesses – iconic beer brands with longstanding heritage and leading positions in core markets.”
In a statement, Asahi added: “Through this proposed acquisition, Asahi aims to expand its growth platform in Europe and become a global player with a distinct position.”
In November, FoodBev reported that the decision to offload Peroni and Grolsch represented “a pre-emptive strike to appease competition regulators” in Europe, quoting London newspaper The Sunday Times. The two beers were among the most famous of SABMiller’s flagship brands, but lost out because of their premium credentials. SABMiller also produces beers such as Foster’s, Pilsner Urquell and Polish beer brand Tyskie.
Asahi emerged somewhat as a surprise buyer, with Heineken, Molson Coors and Ireland’s C&C Group originally seeming more likely options due to their existing European operation.
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