Second time lucky

According to rumour, private-equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and Affinity Equity Partners are among the bidders that qualified for the second round.

Another rumour has it that South Korea’s retail giant, the Lotte Group, was considered the most likely winner of the first auction, but its initial bid was said to have been too low. However, several sources claim that the retail giant is ready to return to the fray and raise its offer for Oriental Brewery.

Beer would make a nice addition to Lotte’s product line-up, which includes popular local liquor soju and whisky.

AB-InBev, which has successfully placed USD 5 billion worth of bonds in January this year, does not seem to be all that desperate any longer to conduct a fire sale of its underperforming business units in order to solve some short-term financing problems. Hence it may take its time and play its cards well.