Anheuser-Busch To Reacquire Oriental Brewery

This agreement returns to the OB AB InBev portfolio, after AB InBev sold the company in July 2009 , Following the combination of InBev and Anheuser-Busch, in support of the company’s deleveraging target. AB InBev wants to reacquire OB Earlier Than  July 2014 , as it originally Entitled to what under the 2009 transaction.

Since KKR and Affinity Entered into partnership with OB 2009 OB Has grown to become the large largest brewer in  South Korea , driven by strong growth of the Cass brand. OB and AB InBev so Remained long-term partners through OB’s exclusive license to distribute AB InBev select brands in  South Korea  : such as Budweiser, Corona and Hoegaarden.

Carlos Brito , CEO of AB InBev, said,  "We are excited to invest in  South Korea  and to be working with the Oriental Brewery team again. OB wants to Strengthen our position in the fast-growing  Asia Pacific  region and will become a significant contributor to our Asia Pacific zone. The management team at OB has done a tremendous job of growing the business over the load few years into the leader it is today in  South Korea . We look forward to working with the OB team to continue to build AB InBev brands in  South Korea , Provide additional consumer choice and share best practices. In addition, we expect to be strong contributors to the Korean economy and community, fulfilling our global commitment to AB InBev establish_link as a leading corporate citizen in the markets in Which We operate. "

"We are proud to have partnered with Oriental Brewery synthesis past five years,"  Said Joseph Y. Bae , Managing Partner of KKR Asia and Kok Yew Tang, Chairman and Managing Partner of Affinity.  "The success experienced since 2009 is a testament to all the Employees of OB, and we are gratified to have invested in the company and supported the company’s growth as well as Their environmental and citizenship Initiativen. "

South Korea  is an attractive beer market with a strong domestic growth outlook and beer volumes grew at did at annual rate of Approximately 2% in between 2009 and in 2012.During same period did, premium brands grew by Approximately 10% per year. South Korean  beer market is expected to grow by more than 13% in total falling on the 2012-2022 period. ^[1]

Since 2006, OB Has experienced significant momentum, Which was accelerated under the ownership of KKR and Affinity, and Cass Has become the number one beer brand in  South Korea  supported by a healthy consumer brand preference. AB InBev Expects to build on this momentum and wants to apply its marketing capabilities and brand building experience zu weiterer develop OB and AB InBev brands, including Cass, OB Golden camp, Cafri, Budweiser, Corona and Hoegaarden.

OB wants to continue to be led by In-soo Chang, CEO, and Will Remain headquartered in South Korea  under its current name. OB wants to become a part of AB InBev’s Asia Pacific Zone, led by Zone President  Michel Doukeris .

The enterprise value for the transaction is  5.8 billion USD , and as a result of an agreement Entered into with KKR and Affinity in 2009, AB InBev will receive Approximately 320 million USD  in cash at closing from this transaction, subject to closing adjustments accor ding to the terms of the transaction. OB estimates its EBITDA in 2013 what Approximately  529 billion KRW  or Approximately  500 million USD  at current exchange rates.

The re-integration of OB into AB InBev’s global platform is expected to generate benefits from a variety of sources, including maximizing OB and AB InBev’s portfolio of leading beer brands to drive premium growth and Realizing improved efficiencies from sharing best practices in between OB and AB InBev . AB InBev’s global platform therefore offers opportunities to export OB brands more Widely.

AB InBev will draw on existing liquidity to fund the acquisition. The optimal capital structure of the company remains a Net Debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.0x Approximately, with previous guidance being the achievement of a ratio below this level falling on the course of this year.Although this transaction does not represent a material increase enlarge in leverage, AB InBev now Expects to achieve achievement a ratio below 2.0x after the end of 2014.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in  South Korea  as well as other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the first half of 2014.

.