AB InBev Plans Sale Of Peroni, Grolsch

Dutch brewing company Grolsch will be put up for sale in an effort to win Brussels approval for a merger between the world’s two biggest beer groups, the Sunday Times said at the weekend. United States rights over the Peroni and Grolsch brands were passed over to Molson as part of the sell-off.

Earlier this month, Anheuser-Busch InBev formalized the offer to acquire SABMiller in a deal worth 71 billion pounds or about $107 billion. (TAP-A,TAP) for $12 billion in cash.

The deliberations for the beer companies, which belong to SABMiller, are at a preliminary stage, the people said, asking not to be named because the plans aren’t yet public.

AB InBev is hoping to benefit to the tune of $1.4bn (£0.9bn) each year in synergies four years after the tie-up with the renownedly efficient SABMiller. Those brands have far more volume than Peroni and Grolsch.

City sources said AB InBev was reviewing SAB’s European premium brands and had already briefed its advisers about the sale.

As of November 28, 2015, the consensus forecast amongst 28 polled investment analysts covering SABMiller had it that investors should hold their position in the company.

The deal shows the desire of AB Inbev CEO Carlos Britto to not run in to any snags on the way to the industry-changing SABMiller takeover.

Budweiser owner AB InBev is considering selling the leading SABMiller brands as a pre-emptive move to satisfy European Union competition regulators.