Turkish brewer says no word on AB InBev deal after Russian paper says it was rejected

Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii

06/08/2024 15:01

LONDON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Turkish brewer Anadolu Efes
 AEFES.IS  said on Tuesday it had not received a response from
Russian regulators on its bid to buy partner Anheuser-Busch
InBev  ABI.BR  out of a joint venture in Russia, after a media
report said the deal had been rejected. 
    AB InBev, the world's biggest brewer by volume, said in
April 2022 it would sell its interest in the venture to Anadolu
Efes in order to exit Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. 
    However, the deal requires approval from Russian
authorities. On Tuesday, Russia's RBC business daily reported
the government commission on foreign asset sales had turned down
the bid, citing three unidentified sources. 
    Anadolu Efes said in a stock market announcement that it had
not received "any official response as such".  
    "Any developments in this regard will be duly announced," it
continued, adding the process to seek approvals was initiated in
December 2023. 
    AB InBev referred Reuters to Anadolu Efes for comment. A
spokesperson did not immediately respond to further questions on
the implications of any rejection for AB InBev. 
    The companies' 50:50 joint venture, formed in 2018, operates
in Russia and Ukraine, where it has 11 breweries and three
breweries respectively.  
    Russian authorities seized Danish brewer Carlsberg's
 CARLb.CO  Russian business after the company agreed to sell it
to an undisclosed buyer in 2023. The move prompted CEO Jacob
Aarup-Andersen to say its business had been "stolen". 

 (Reporting by Emma Rumney and Alexander Marrow; Writing by Emma
Rumney; Editing by Mark Potter)
 ((Emma.Rumney@thomsonreuters.com; +447391409253;))