Australia: ACCC twice delays Megabrew ruling

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has delayed for the second time in a week a decision on the local impact of the $140 billion global beer mega-merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, the owner of Victoria Bitter.

The ACCC has pushed back a proposed decision date of April 21 at the request of the two big global brewing giants who want to provide more information to the Australian regulator.

It is the second time in a week there has been a delay, with the ACCC altering the previous proposed decision date of April 14 and extending it to April 21, citing the need for more time to “consider the proposed acquisition”.

The ACCC has been reviewing the local issues from the proposed global mega-merger since mid-January. The main issues it is scrutinising are the licensing deal for Australia’s No.1 imported beer, Corona, which has about 5 per cent of the total Australian beer market, and the arrangements for beer distribution in Australian pubs and bars.

British-based SABMiller bought out Foster’s Group in 2011 in a $12.3 billion takeover which gave it ownership of beer brands Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught and Crown Lager. That buyout also triggered a change of control clause for the rights to sell Corona in Australia which had been held by Foster’s for 22 years.

Full Content: Brews News

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