29th Jun 2006 15:30
SABMiller PLC29 June 2006 SABMILLER SELLS JUICE BUSINESS IN COLOMBIA London and Johannesburg, 29 June 2006. SABMiller plc ("SABMiller") announcesthat its Colombian subsidiary Bavaria S.A. ("Bavaria") has entered into anagreement to sell its fruit juice business through a sale of 100% of the equityinterest in Productora de Jugos (a fruit pulp business located in Tulua), theTutti Frutti and Orense trademarks and certain assets associated with juiceproduction, to the Colombian beverage company Postobon S.A. ("Postobon"), for acash consideration of US$55.3 million. In the year to December 2005, Bavariasold approximately 700 thousand hectolitres of juices. This transaction issubject to the review and approval of the Colombian competition authorities. Postobon, which is part of the Organizacion Ardila Lulle, is a producer of softdrinks, water and fruit juices and is seeking to develop its fruit and juiceexports to international markets following the ratification of the Free TradeAgreement with the United States. In addition, SABMiller has signed a co-operation agreement with Carbe, themajority shareholder of Postobon, which includes an intention to assist Postobonin the development of its international markets. The agreement includes, interalia, a right of first refusal in favour of SABMiller, in the event of a sale ofthe Postobon beverage business. Ends Notes to editors: SABMiller SABMiller plc is one of the world's largest brewers with brewing interests ordistribution agreements in over 60 countries across five continents. The group'sbrands include premium international beers such as Miller Genuine Draft, PeroniNastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as an exceptional range of marketleading local brands. Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is also one of the largestbottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world. In the year ended 31 March 2006, the group reported US$2,626 million adjustedpre-tax profit and a turnover of US$15,307 million. SABMiller plc is listed onthe London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Postobon Postobon S.A., a flagship Company of the Organizacion Ardila Lulle, is themarket leader in the carbonated soft drinks sector in Colombia. The company'sbrands include Colombiana, Postobon and Pepsi. 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.vismedia.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 Nigel Fairbrass Head of Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0105 Bavaria S.A. Tel: +57 1 638 9000 Javier Hoyos Arboleda Vice President of Corporate Affairs Tel: +57 1 638 9000 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 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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