
Asahi picks up Pilsner Urquell
Asahi Group Holdings has further bolstered its international brand portfolio, picking up Pilsner Urquell as a result of the continued fallout from AB InBev’s takeover of SABMiller.
Asahi will pay AB InBev €7.3 billion to acquire its businesses in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, Hungary and Romania and other related assets previously owned by SABMiller.
The acquisition includes global brands such as Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsner beer, which, while a minnow in Australia, maintains the top market shares in the Czech Republic (the world’s highest per capita beer drinking country), the Slovak Republic, Poland, Hungary and Romania.
“Through the acquisition of the target business, together with [Asahi] Super Dry, Peroni and Grolsch, Asahi aims to establish a unique position as a global player, mainly focusing on a leading premium brand portfolio to achieve sustainable growth,” the company said.