8th May 2008 07:01
SABMiller PLC08 May 2008 8 May 2008 SABMiller plc announces entry into the Ukraine SABMiller plc ("SABMiller") announces that it has agreed to acquire a 99.84%interest in the Ukrainian brewer CJSC Sarmat ("Sarmat"). The transaction issubject to approval by the Ukrainian competition authorities and other customarypre-closing conditions. Sarmat is one of the largest brewers in the Ukraine and, on completion, willoperate one brewery in Donetsk in the east of the country with an annualproduction capacity of 2.9 million hectolitres, producing the Sarmat, Dnipro andDrive Max brands. The purchase price is not being disclosed, however the valueof the gross assets to be acquired is approximately US$130 million. This acquisition represents SABMiller's entry into one of the fastest growingbeer markets globally with a four year growth rate to 2006 of 14%(1) p.a. TheUkraine's medium term forecast for beer market growth is expected to be higherthan any other major Central and Eastern European ("CEE") market. Alan Clark, Managing Director of SABMiller Europe, said: "We are delighted toannounce the acquisition of Sarmat and our entry into the fast growing andattractive Ukrainian market. The Ukrainian beer market has recorded exceptionalexpansion in recent years, driven by strong economic growth, but it stillremains behind other CEE countries in terms of per capita beer consumption." Sarmat is owned by System Capital Management Ltd a diversified holding companythat manages a number of interests in the Ukrainian market. (1) Per Plato Logic Ends About SABMiller plc SABMiller plc is one of the world's largest brewers with brewing interests ordistribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. The group'sbrands include premium international beers such as Grolsch, Miller GenuineDraft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as an exceptionalrange of market leading local brands. Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is alsoone of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world. In the year ended 31 March 2007, the group reported US$3,154 million adjustedpre-tax profit and revenue of US$18,620 million. SABMiller plc is listed on theLondon 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 ofcharge from www.sabmiller.com or www.newscast.co.uk Enquiries:----------------- ----------------------- ------------------ SABMiller plc Tel: +44 20 7659 0100 Sue Clark Director of Corporate Affairs Tel: +44 20 7659 0184 Gary Leibowitz Senior Vice President, Investor Tel: +44 20 7659 0174 Relations Jonathan Oates Business Media Relations Manager Tel: +44 20 7659 0144 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 disseminate anyupdates 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 priceat which the Company's securities have been bought or sold in the past, or onthe yield on such securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to futureperformance.-------------------------- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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