As expected, the European Commission approved Anheuser-Busch InBev‘s acquisition of SABMiller.
ABI called it “a significant milestone for the transaction and in keeping with AB InBev’s ambition to secure the necessary regulatory approvals that will allow for closing in the second half of 2016.”
To win approval, ABI agreed to divest itself of the Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime brands and businesses in Italy,the Netherlands, UK and internationally (excluding certain U.S. rights to Asahi. The EC approved Asahi as a suitable purchaser Tuesday (5/24).
ABI also proposed selling SABMiller’s businesses in Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Those sales can occur after the SABMiller merger, ABI said.