| Mon 9 May 2005, 9:13 | | Acquires Topvar Brewery In Slovakia |
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Sabmiller Acquires Topvar Brewery In Slovakia
SABMiller Plc
JSEALPHA CODE: SAB
ISSUER CODE: SOSAB
ISIN CODE: GB0004835483
SABMILLER ACQUIRES TOPVAR BREWERY IN SLOVAKIA
London and Johannesburg, 9th May 2005. SABMiller plc announces that it has
agreed to acquire the Slovakian brewer Topvar, a.s. (`Topvar` or the `Company`).
Topvar is located in the City of Topo_GBPany in Western Slovakia and sold 569,000
hectolitres of beer in 2004.
Under the terms of the agreement with the controlling shareholders, SABMiller
will make an offer to acquire all the shares of the minority shareholders in the
Company (40.5% interest) (`the Offer`). Depending on the level of acceptances
under the Offer, the controlling shareholders, who have a 59.5% interest in the
Company, have agreed to sell sufficient shares such that SABMiller`s interest
will be at least 33%, but not more than 49% of the issued share capital
(`Initial Stake`).
Six months after the acquisition of the Initial Stake, the controlling
shareholders will sell further shares (`the Additional Shares`) to enable
SABMiller to increase its interest to at least 67% of Topvar. The remaining
shares held by the controlling shareholders are subject to put and call
arrangements exercisable within 18 months of SABMiller acquiring the Additional
Shares.
The transaction is conditional upon Slovakian Anti-monopoly Office approval, a
minimum level of acceptances under the Offer and the fulfilment of certain
technical requirements. Provided the minimum level of acceptances under the
Offer is met, the transaction will provide SABMiller with an interest in Topvar
of at least 95%.
The value of the net assets to be acquired is approximately US$15.2 million.
Alan Clark, Managing Director of SABMiller`s European division, commented:
`This acquisition complements our existing operations in Slovakia and
strengthens our overall position in Central Europe. Topvar brings to SABMiller a
strong local brand, an excellent distribution platform in Western Slovakia and a
quality production site. The acquisition reflects our strategy of optimising and
expanding our positions in developing markets and we anticipate brand,
procurement and distribution benefits arising from the transaction.`
Ends
Notes to editors:
SABMiller plc
SABMiller plc is one of the world`s largest brewers, with 2003/04 lager sales
volumes in excess of 137 million hectolitres. It has a brewing presence in over
40 countries across four continents and a portfolio of strong brands and leading
market shares in many of the countries in which it has brewing operations.
Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola
products in the world.
In the year ended 31 March 2004, the group generated US$1,391 million pre-tax
profit from a turnover of US$12,645 million. SABMiller plc is listed on the
London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
This announcement is available on the SABMiller website, www.sabmiller.com
High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free of
charge from www.vismedia.co.uk
Enquiries:
Sue Clark Director of Corporate Tel: +44 20 7659 0184
Affairs
Gary Leibowitz Vice President, Investor Tel: +44 20 7659 0119
Relations Mob: +44 7717 428540
Nigel Fairbrass Head of Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0105
Mob: +44 7799 894265
Peter Fecko Mmd Public Relations Tel: +421 2 5293 2476
(Slovakia) Mob: +421 905 213 136
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.
