E-Malt.com News article: 3103

Serbia-Montenegro: Efes Breweries International N.V. (“EBI”), the Holland based subsidiary of Anadolu Efes, has initiated a tender offer to acquire not less than 55% stake in the 7 Septambar A.D. Zajecar Brewery (“Zajecar”) located in Zajecar, Serbia-Montenegro, following the receipt of necessary approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Serbia-Montenegro, EBI announced on August 12.

The offer has been made based on approximately ˆ18.5 million value for 100% of Zajecar shares. Zajecar brewery has 100 million litres of annual brewing capacity and has sold approximately 44 million litres of beer in 2003. EBI will become the third largest brewer in Serbia-Montenegro, together with the Pancevo brewery that was acquired in 2003, if the acquisition of the Zajecar brewery is completed. EBI with a presence across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eastern Europe and the Balkans, is an 85% owned subsidiary of Anadolu Efes, the leading Turkish beverage company.

EBI is responsible for the international beer operations of Anadolu Efes, operating nine breweries and two malteries in Russia, Romania, Republic of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia and Montenegro. EBI is one of the major brewers in the region with total annual production capacity of approximately 1 billion litres and malt production capacity of 50,000 tons. Since the start of the commercial production in 1998, EBI has generated a 121% sales CAGR until 2003, through a product portfolio including a combination of strong local brands many of which are market leaders in their respective market segments, and the Efes Pilsener international brand which is currently being sold in over 40 countries.

Anadolu Efes, listed in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (AEFES.IS), is the holding company of Efes Beverage Group’s beverage interests as well as an operating company, under which Turkey beer operations are managed. The Efes Beverage Group is composed of Anadolu Efes and its subsidiaries and affiliates that produce and market beer, malt, soft drinks across a geography including Turkey, Russia, the CIS countries and Southeast Europe. The Group operates with 14 breweries, 4 malteries and 9 Coca-Cola bottling facilities in 10 countries and has an annual brewing capacity of around 1.9 billion liters, malting capacity of 150,000 tons and Coca-Cola bottling capacity of 420 million unit cases per year.


14 August, 2004