Filed by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Subject Company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
(Commission
File No. 001-34455)
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PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 24 May 2016
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The enclosed information constitutes regulated information as defined in the Belgian Royal Decree of 14 November 2007 regarding
the duties of issuers of financial instruments which have been admitted for trading on a regulated market.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV WELCOMES CLEARANCE IN EU FOR PROPOSED COMBINATION WITH SABMILLER
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev) (Euronext: ABI) (NYSE: BUD) (MEXBOL: ABI) (JSE: ANB) welcomes the European Commissions approval
of its recommended combination with SABMiller plc (SABMiller).
European Commission approval in Phase I of the EU merger review process
is a significant milestone for the transaction and in keeping with AB InBevs ambition to secure the necessary regulatory approvals that will allow for closing in the second half of 2016.
To achieve European Commission approval at this stage and consistent with AB InBevs approach to proactively addressing potential regulatory
considerations, AB InBev proposed the sale of the Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands and their associated businesses in Italy, the Netherlands, UK and internationally (excluding certain US rights) to Asahi, whom the European Commission today
approved as a suitable purchaser.
AB InBev also proposed the sale of SABMillers businesses in Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania,
Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland). The Central and Eastern European businesses can be sold to one or two purchasers and can be completed after closing of AB InBevs proposed combination with SABMiller.
These divestments are conditional on the successful closing of the recommended combination of AB InBev with SABMiller, and in the case of the Central and
Eastern European businesses, on the European Commissions approval of the purchaser(s) as suitable purchasers.
We are very pleased
with the positive decision of the European Commission. With this clearance, we remain firmly on track for a closing in the second half of 2016
, comments Carlos Brito, CEO of AB InBev.
AB InBev has now obtained approval in 14 jurisdictions. Clearance decisions, with or without conditions, have now been obtained: in Asia-Pacific
(Australia, India and South Korea); in Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zambia); in Europe (the EU, Albania and Ukraine); and in Latin America (Chile, Colombia and Mexico). Approval in Ecuador is subject to certain conditions.
In the remaining jurisdictions where regulatory clearance is still pending, AB InBev will continue to engage proactively with the relevant authorities to
obtain the necessary clearances as quickly as possible.
The combination between AB InBev and SABMiller would create a truly global brewer, providing
more choices for beer drinkers, including global and local brands, in new and existing markets around the world.
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About Anheuser-Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ABI) and South
Africa (JSE: ANB) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). It is the leading global brewer and one of the worlds top five consumer products companies. Beer, the original social network,
has been bringing people together for thousands of years and the
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PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 24 May 2016
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companys portfolio of well over 200 beer brands continues to forge strong connections
with consumers. This includes global brands Budweiser®, Corona® and Stella Artois®; international brands Becks®, Leffe® and Hoegaarden®; and local champions Bud Light®, Skol®, Brahma®, Antarctica®,
Quilmes®, Victoria®, Modelo Especial®, Michelob Ultra®, Harbin®, Sedrin®, Klinskoye®, Sibirskaya Korona®, Chernigivske®, Cass® and Jupiler®. Anheuser-Busch InBevs dedication to quality goes back to a
brewing tradition of more than 600 years and the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium, as well as the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery, with origins in St. Louis, USA since 1852. Geographically diversified with a balanced
exposure to developed and developing markets, Anheuser Busch InBev leverages the collective strengths of more than 150,000 employees based in 26 countries worldwide. In 2015, AB InBev realized 43.6 billion US dollar revenue. The company strives to
be the Best Beer Company Bringing People Together For a Better World. For more information, please visit:
www.ab-inbev.com.
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Media
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Investors
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Marianne Amssoms
Tel: +1-212-573-9281
E-mail:
marianne.amssoms@ab-inbev.com
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Graham Staley
Tel: +1-212-573-4365
E-mail:
graham.staley@ab-inbev.com
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Karen Couck
Tel:
+1-212-573-9283
E-mail:
karen.couck@ab-inbev.com
Kathleen Van Boxelaer
Tel:
+32-16-27-68-23
E-mail:
kathleen.vanboxelaer@ab-inbev.com
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Heiko Vulsieck
Tel: +32-16-27-68-88
E-mail:
heiko.vulsieck@ab-inbev.com
Lauren Abbott
Tel: +1-212-573-9287
E-mail:
lauren.abbott@ab-inbev.com
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Philippe Blanchard, Brunswick Group Brussels
Tel: +32-2-235-65-10
E-mail:
pblanchard@brunswickgroup.com
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PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 24 May 2016
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Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the
commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the persons interests and short positions in, and
rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm
(London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain
details of the dealing concerned and of the persons interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the
extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to
acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must
also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening
Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panels website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer
period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panels Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a
Dealing Disclosure.
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PRESS RELEASE
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Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current
expectations and views of future events and developments of the management of AB InBev and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained in this release include statements relating to AB
InBevs proposed business combination with SABMiller and AB InBevs possible divestiture of certain parts of SABMillers European business (including with respect to the expected timing and scope of these transactions), and other
statements other than historical facts. Forward-looking statements include statements typically containing words such as will, may, should, believe, intends, expects,
anticipates, targets, estimates, likely, foresees and words of similar import. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. You should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the current views of the management of AB InBev, are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties about AB InBev and SABMiller and are dependent on many factors, some of which are
outside of AB InBevs control. There are important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different, including the satisfaction of the pre-conditions and the conditions to the transactions
described herein, the ability to obtain the regulatory approvals related to the transactions and the ability to satisfy any conditions required to obtain such approvals, and the risks relating to AB InBev described under Item 3.D of its Annual
Report on Form 20-F (Form 20-F) filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 14 March 2016. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. There can be no certainty that the proposed transactions will be completed on the terms described herein or at all.
The forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included
elsewhere, including AB InBevs most recent Form 20-F, reports furnished on Form 6-K, and any other documents that AB InBev or SABMiller have made public. Any forward-looking statements made in this communication are qualified in their entirety
by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by AB InBev will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, AB
InBev or its business or operations. Except as required by law, AB InBev undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Future SEC Filings and This Filing: Important Information
In the event that AB InBev and SABMiller implement a transaction relating to the business combination of AB InBev and
SABMiller, AB InBev or Newbelco SA/NV (a Belgian limited liability company formed for the purposes of such transaction) may be required to file relevant materials with the SEC. Such documents, however, are not currently available. INVESTORS ARE
URGED TO READ ANY DOCUMENTS REGARDING SUCH POTENTIAL TRANSACTION IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of such filings without charge, at the SECs
website (http://www.sec.gov) once such documents are filed with the SEC. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from AB InBev, without charge, once they are filed with the SEC.
Notice to US investors
US holders of SABMiller shares should note that the steps of any transaction requiring approval by SABMiller
shareholders may be implemented under a UK scheme of arrangement provided for under English company law. If so, it is expected that any shares to be issued under the transaction to SABMiller shareholders would be issued in reliance upon the
exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act of 1933, provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof and would be subject to UK disclosure requirements (which are different from those of the United States). The transaction may
instead be implemented by way of a takeover offer under English law. If so, any securities to be issued under the transaction to SABMiller shareholders will be registered under the US Securities Act, absent an applicable exemption from registration.
If the transaction is implemented by way of UK takeover offer, it will be done in compliance with the applicable rules under the US Exchange Act of 1934, including any applicable exemptions provided under Rule 14d-1(d) thereunder.
This filing shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of
securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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