25th Jul 2005 07:00
SABMiller PLC25 July 2005 Ref: 16/2005 PROPOSED ACQUISITON OF MINORITY INTEREST IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC London and Johannesburg, 25th July 2005. SABMiller plc announces that its whollyowned subsidiary Pilsner Urquell Investments B.V. ("PUI") has initiated abuy-out process to acquire the remaining 3.1% interest held by minorityshareholders in the group's Czech operating company, Plzensky Prazdroj a.s. ("Plzensky Prazdroj"). Following the proposed transaction, PUI will be the soleshareholder in Plzensky Prazdroj. Following an amendment to the Czech Commercial Code and at the request of PUI,Plzensky Prazdroj's majority shareholder, the board of directors of PlzenskyPrazdroj has called an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders ("EGM") atwhich it expects PUI's offer to minority shareholders to be approved. The valueof the gross assets to be acquired is US$18.0 million or CZK446.7 million(representing 3.1% of total gross assets). The EGM is expected to take place on26th August 2005 and the acquisition of the minority shareholders' interest isexpected to complete in October 2005. Ends Notes to editors: SABMiller plc SABMiller plc is one of the world's largest brewers, with 2004/05 lager salesvolumes in excess of 148 million hectolitres. It has a brewing presence in over40 countries across four continents and a portfolio of strong brands and leadingmarket 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-Colaproducts in the world. In the year ended 31 March 2005, the group generated US$2,194 million pre-taxprofit from a turnover of US$14,543 million. SABMiller plc is listed on theLondon and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Plzensky Prazdroj Plzensky Prazdroj is the leading brewing company in the Czech Republic withlager sales volumes of over 9.7m hls in 2004/05 in over 50 countries. Its mainbrands are Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Radegast and Velkopopovicky Kozel. Website: www.sabmiller.com High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free ofcharge from: www.vismedia.co.uk Enquiries: Sue Clark Director of Corporate Affairs Tel: +44 20 7659 0184 Gary Leibowitz Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0119 Mob: +44 7717 428540 Nigel Fairbrass Head of Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0105 Mob: +44 7799 894265 This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or thesolicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the"Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement toenter into investment activity. This document includes "forward-looking statements". These statements maycontain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" andwords of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of historicalfacts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, thoseregarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans andobjectives of management for future operations (including development plans andobjectives relating to the Company's products and services) are forward-lookingstatements. 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 fromfuture results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by suchforward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based onnumerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future businessstrategies 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 disseminateany updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in thisannouncement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regardthereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any suchstatement is based. Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which theCompany's securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield onsuch securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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