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publicado el 16 de OCTUBRE de 2009

Freshfields advises CVC on acquisition of AB InBev’s Central and Eastern European operations

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised leading global private equity firm CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”) on its agreement to acquire the Central European operations of Anheuser-Busch InBev for an enterprise value of approximately USD 2,231 million, and additional rights to a future payment contingent on CVC’s return on its initial investment. This is not only one of the largest private equity transactions ever in Central and Eastern Europe but the largest buyout in Europe so far this year. Under the terms of the agreement, announced today, funds advised by CVC have agreed to acquire ABI’s operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. CVC has also agreed to brew and/or distribute Stella Artois, Beck’s, Löwenbräu, Hoegaarden, Spaten and Leffe in the above countries under license from ABI. ABI will retain rights to brew and distribute Staropramen in several countries including Ukraine, Russia, the US, Germany and the UK. The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory clearances, and is expected to close by January 2010. Freshfields corporate partner Christopher Bown comments: ‘We are delighted to have advised CVC Capital Partners on the firm’s first investment in Central and Eastern Europe. This landmark transaction for CVC drew on a combination of Freshfields’ world-class private equity practice and our market-leading capabilities in the CEE region.’ Freshfields’ international team was led by Christopher Bown, working with fellow corporate partner Sebastian Lawson, senior associate Jan Hards, associate Neville Moore and trainee solicitors Charles Leeming and Miranda Lewin (all corporate), partners David Winfield and Martin Hutchings and associate Chris Bainbridge (all finance), partner Matthias Koch and counsel Thomas Becker (both IP/IT) and partner David Aitman, senior associate Alastair Chapman and associate Marie-Claire Strawbridge (all antitrust, competition and trade).