| Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:15 | | SAB -SABMiller Plc completes Ukrainian acquisition |
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SAB
SOSAB
SAB -SABMiller Plc completes Ukrainian acquisition
SABMiller
JSEALPHA CODE: SAB
ISSUER CODE: SOSAB
ISIN CODE: GB0004835483
4 July 2008
SABMiller Plc completes Ukrainian acquisition
SABMiller plc announces that, following recent approval from the Ukrainian
competition authorities, it has now completed the acquisition of 99.84%
interest in the Ukrainian brewer CJSC Sarmat ("Sarmat").
Sarmat is one of the largest brewers in the Ukraine and will operate one
brewery in Donetsk in the east of the country with an annual production
capacity of 2.9 million hectolitres, producing the Sarmat, Dnipro and Drive
Max brands.
Igor Tikhonov will be appointed Managing Director of Sarmat, having
previously been Managing Director CIS at SABMiller RUS. Commenting on the
appointment, James Wilson, Managing Director of SABMiller RUS said, "I am
confident that with Igor`s extensive experience and knowledge we will be
able to deliver strong results in the Ukraine and benefit from this fast
growing and attractive market."
SABMiller will initially focus on upgrading Sarmat`s facilities in
accordance with its world class global manufacturing standards to increase
the operational efficiency and overall effectiveness of the business.
SABMiller will also seek to immediately strengthen the existing Sarmat
brands and then in the medium term introduce a selection of its
international and regional worthmore brands into the Ukraine.
This acquisition represents SABMiller`s entry into one of the fastest
growing beer markets globally with a four year growth rate to 2006 of 14%
p.a.
Ends
About SABMiller plc
SABMiller plc is one of the world`s largest brewers with brewing interests
or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. The
group`s brands include premium international beers such as Grolsch, Miller
Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as an
exceptional range of market leading local brands. Outside the USA,
SABMiller plc is also one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in
the world.
In the year ended 31 March 2008, the group reported US$3,639 million
adjusted pre-tax profit and revenue of US$21,410 million. SABMiller plc is
listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.com
High resolution images are available for the media to view and download
free of charge from www.sabmiller.com or www.newscast.co.uk
Enquiries:
SABMiller plc Tel: +44 207659 0100
Sue Clark Director of Corporate Tel: +44 207659 0184
Affairs
Gary Leibowitz Senior Vice President, Tel: +44 207659 0174
Investor Relations
Jonathan Oates Business Media Relations Tel: +44 7887 924560
Manager
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the
solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the
"Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement to
enter into investment activity.
This document includes "forward-looking statements". These statements may
contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect"
and words of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of
historical facts included in this announcement, including, without
limitation, those regarding the Company`s financial position, business
strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations
(including development plans and objectives relating to the Company`s
products and services) are forward-looking statements. These forward-
looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous
assumptions regarding the Company`s present and future business strategies
and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. These
forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement.
The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained in this announcement to reflect any change in the Company`s
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based. Any information
contained in this announcement on the price at which the Company`s
securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield on such
securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance.
Date: 04/07/2008 16:15:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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