BELGIUM: A-B InBev completes Eastern Europe assets sale

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 2 December 2009

Anheuser-Busch InBev has completed the sale of brewing assets across Eastern Europe to private equity group CVC Capital.

The deal nets A-B InBev an initial US$2.2bn, but the brewer could receive a further $800m depending on the performance of the businesses under CVC Capital.

A-B InBev said today (2 December) that the assets will be renamed 'StarBev'.

They include brewing assets in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia.

However, A-B InBev will retain the right to brew Czech beer brand Staropramen in Russia and Ukraine and to distribute the beer in several other markets, including the UK, US and Germany.

StarBev will also brew Stella Artois, Beck's, Löwenbräu and Spaten and distribute Hoegaarden and Leffe - under licence from A-B InBev - in the countries in which it operates.

Yesterday, A-B InBev announced it had completed the sale of theme parks in the US to Blackstone.

The two deals are part of the brewer's strategy to dispose of at least $7bn in assets following InBev's $52bn takeover of A-B late last year.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: InBev