Heineken banks on market recovery in central and eastern Europe

According to Austrian media reports, Mr Nussmeier predicted that the market would concentrate further especially now that AB-InBev sold its central and eastern European unit to private equity company CVC Capital Partners.

It is widely believed in Austria that CVC’s new beer vehicle, StarBev, will eventually be split up and sold to the global players active in the region.

Perhaps Austrian pundits are overcredulous. From what we hear at BRAUWELT International, the sales contract between AB-InBev and CVC gives AB-InBev the opportunity to buy back the assets if they are ever put up for sale, something the company may be tempted to do once it further decreases its leverage.