Japan's Asahi gets green light from the EC for the takeover of Ursus | Progresiv
The European Commission (EC) has authorized the takeover of SABMiller brands and assets in five countries of Eastern Europe, including Ursus Breweries, the local leader of the Romanian beer market by Japanese manufacturer Asahi Beer Group Holdings, the transaction value amounting to 7.3 billion euros. 
The official announcement was made by Japan's Asahi in December last year. The transaction includes the acquisition of assets in Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and will be completed in the second half of this year. This is the largest acquisition of the Japanese group on the European market, where it previously took over two other large brands from SABMiller’s portfolio - Peroni and Grolsch. According to Bloomberg, this move ensures Asahi group the entry in the top 3 players on the European beer market.
"The Commission concluded that the acquisition will not raise competition concerns", according to a press release of the European Commission.
The transaction includes 8 companies in total, including Ursus Breweries SA in Romania, SABMiller Poland BV, SABMiller Brands Europe a.s., SABMiller Europe AG. Aggregated, the 8 companies have total assets of nearly 2 billion euros, net sales of 1.64 billion and an EBITDA of 493.8 million euros in the fiscal year ending March 2016 according to data reported by Asahi.
In Romania, SABMiller is present through Ursus Breweries, which owns three breweries - in Brasov, Buzau and Timisoara and a small capacity production line in Cluj. Ursus Breweries disputes the first place on the beer market with Heineken, a market on upward trend in 2016. The company's revenue rose by 10% in the financial year 2015-2016 (ending March 31, 2016) at constant exchange rate, supported by the advance of 7% volume for lager beer, which achieved higher performances compared to the beer market, according to a financial report released by Ursus Breweries.
