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from the now-hold-your-horses-a-minute dept.
Asahi Breweries, Ltd. has paid nearly 10 billion euros in 2016 to buy European beer brands owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev NV:
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. agreed to buy SABMiller Plc's central and eastern European assets from Anheuser-Busch InBev NV for 7.3 billion euros ($7.8 billion), in a move that catapults Japan's largest brewer to third place on the continent.
Asahi expects the acquisition -- which spans five countries and includes beer brands such as Pilsner Urquell, Kozel and Tyskie -- to close in the first half of 2017, the Tokyo-based brewer said in a statement Tuesday. The deal would help Asahi position its overseas business as a growth engine to transform itself into a global powerhouse, it said.
The deal further strengthens Asahi's foothold in Europe after the Japanese brewer agreed to pay 2.55 billion euros for AB InBev's Peroni and Grolsch brands earlier this year. For AB InBev, the divestment brings it a step closer to meeting the antitrust commitments that allowed it to buy SABMiller for about $100 billion.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 15 2016, @09:30PM
In the US, if these mega-corporations didn't have such a cozy relationship with the distributors, I wouldn't care so much. There are ups and downs, of course. It is nice to get a beer that you've always heard about but never had because it was from a craft brewery on the other side of the country, which was made possible because they were bought by InBev-AB-SABMiller-(fill in the blank) and are now part of their distribution network. But, that comes at the expense of forcibly keeping stuff you should be able to get off of the shelves because of sweetheart deals or old fashioned strong-arming the sellers.
Support your local brewery!