On 28 October 2015, SABMiller and AB InBev announced the extension of the relevant PUSU deadline to 4 November 2015 in order to allow SABMiller and AB InBev to continue their discussions with respect to the possible recommended offer to be made by AB InBev for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of SABMiller on the key terms set out in the announcement on 13 October 2015 (the “Possible Offer”). It was announced at that time that AB InBev had completed its confirmatory due diligence review of SABMiller and reconfirmed the financial and other terms of the Possible Offer. AB InBev also confirmed that facilities which will allow AB InBev to provide certain funds in support of the cash components of the Possible Offer had been negotiated and could be executed at short notice.
Since that announcement, SABMiller and AB InBev have made good progress in agreeing the terms of the Possible Offer which will be set out in detail in any announcement of a firm intention to make an offer. AB InBev has also confirmed that the above mentioned facilities have been entered into. In order to allow SABMiller and AB InBev to finalise their discussions and satisfy the pre-conditions to the announcement of a formal transaction as outlined below, the Board of SABMiller has requested that the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel") further extends the relevant PUSU deadline until 5.00pm on 11 November 2015.
Further extension of the PUSU deadline
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, AB InBev was required, by not later than 5.00 pm on 4 November 2015, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for SABMiller in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for SABMiller, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code, the Board of SABMiller has requested that the Panel extends the relevant deadline, as referred to above. In the light of this request, an extension has been granted by the Panel and AB InBev must, by not later than 5.00 pm on 11 November 2015, either announce a firm intention to make an offer for SABMiller in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for SABMiller, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.
The announcement of a formal transaction would be subject to the following matters:
- unanimous recommendation by the Board of SABMiller in respect of the all-cash offer, and the execution of irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the transaction from members of the SABMiller Board, in a form acceptable to AB InBev;
- the execution of irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the transaction and to elect for the PSA from SABMiller’s two major shareholders, Altria Group, Inc. and BevCo Ltd., in each case in respect of all of their shareholding and in a form acceptable to AB InBev and SABMiller;
- the execution of irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the transaction from AB InBev’s largest shareholders, the Stichting Anheuser-Busch InBev, EPS Participations SaRL and BRC SaRL in a form acceptable to AB InBev and SABMiller; and
- final approval by the Board of AB InBev.
The Board of AB InBev fully supports the terms of this Possible Offer and expects (subject to the matters above) to give its formal approval immediately prior to announcement.
AB InBev reserves the right to waive in whole or in part any of the pre-conditions to making an offer set out in this announcement, other than c) above which will not be waived.
The conditions of the transaction will be customary for a combination of this nature, and will include approval by both companies’ shareholders and receipt of antitrust and regulatory approvals.
In view of the timetable for obtaining some of these approvals, AB InBev envisages proceeding by way of a pre-conditional scheme of arrangement in accordance with the Code.
The cash consideration under the transaction would be financed through a combination of AB InBev’s internal financial resources and new third party debt.
As previously announced, AB InBev has reserved the following rights:
- to introduce other forms of consideration and/or to vary the composition of consideration;
- to implement the transaction through or together with a subsidiary of AB InBev or NewCo or a company which will become a subsidiary of AB InBev or NewCo;
- to make an offer (including the all-cash offer and PSA) for SABMiller at any time on less favourable terms:
- with the agreement or recommendation of the Board of SABMiller;
- if a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer for SABMiller on less favourable terms; or
- following the announcement by SABMiller of a whitewash transaction pursuant to the Code; and
- to reduce its offer (including the all-cash offer and PSA) by the amount of any dividend that is announced, declared, made or paid by SABMiller prior to completion, save for ordinary course dividends declared or paid prior to completion, which shall not exceed USD 0.2825 per share for the period ended 30 September 2015 and a further USD 0.9375 per share for the period ended 31 March 2016 (totalling USD 1.22 per share) and shall not exceed an amount to be agreed between AB InBev and SABMiller in respect of periods thereafter (which shall be disclosed in any announcement of a firm intention to make an offer).
The announcement does not constitute an offer or impose any obligation on AB InBev to make an offer, nor does it evidence a firm intention to make an offer within the meaning of the Code. There can be no certainty that a formal offer will be made.
A further announcement will be made when appropriate.
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