SABMiller against Anheuser-Busch- take one
rrespective of what you read and hear these days - China is it. At the moment, China, like the United States, makes up 25 percent of the world beer market. But whereas the U.S. accounts for 30 percent of the global brewing profit pool, China accounts for only two percent. This has not stopped SABMiller and Anheuser-Busch from slugging it out over the past few weeks in their bid for the Hong Kong-listed Harbin Brewery. In the end, SABMiller dropped out, ending a multi-million dollar battle for control of China’s fourth largest brewer. SABMiller had offered HKD4.30 a share for Harbin, valuing the fourth-largest player in China’s fast-growing beer market at USD550 million.
SABMiller acquired a near 30 percent stake in Harbin last year, but the partnership soon grew sour.58 a piece.....