21st Jul 2005 08:30
SABMiller PLC21 July 2005 Ref: 15/2005 SABMiller to invest £30 million to promote key brands in the UK London and Johannesburg, 21 July 2005: SABMiller plc today announces the launchof MILLER BRANDS (UK) Limited, a new operating company which will manage thesales, marketing and distribution of Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro,Miller Genuine Draft and Castle Lager in the UK. For the first time, MILLERBRANDS will drive the strategic direction and investment for all four ofSABMiller's premium brands in the UK. An initial investment of £30 million(US$52 million) over the next two years signals the company's determination toincrease its share of the premium beer market As part of this move, SABMiller has reached a new agreement with Scottish &Newcastle plc to transfer the marketing and distribution rights for MillerGenuine Draft to MILLER BRANDS from January 2006. At the same time Scottish &Newcastle will transfer back the distribution rights for Peroni Nastro Azzurroin the off-trade. Scottish & Newcastle will continue to contract brew MillerGenuine Draft and manage the 'Miller Beer' brand under licence in the UK. Gary Whitlie, Managing Director of MILLER BRANDS, commented: "We have an exciting portfolio of well known international brands that webelieve has strong growth potential in the UK. Our investment of £30 milliondemonstrates our commitment to this market and we are determined to bring afresh approach to satisfying the needs of our customers and consumers. This is apremium brand business which will leverage our considerable global experience inbuilding profitable beer brands." Physical distribution of product will commence in October 2005 when MILLERBRANDS takes over responsibility for Pilsner Urquell, Castle Lager and PeroniNastro Azzurro (on-trade). Miller Genuine Draft will follow in January 2006.The company is based at SABMiller House in Woking and initially creates 35 newjobs. For further information on MILLER BRANDS please visit the website:www.millerbrands.co.uk 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. This announcement is available on the SABMiller website, www.sabmiller.com High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free ofcharge from www.vismedia.co.uk Enquiries: SABMiller plc Tel: +44 20 7659 0100 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 James Crampton Media Relations Manager Tel: +44 20 7659 0172 Mob: +44 7795 208158 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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