SAB Miller - the firm that AB InBev wants to buy

AB InBev wants to purchase SAB Miller - according to reports. PMA looks at the recent history of the brewing giant.

So, according to reports, AB InBev wants to get its hands on SAB Miller. Below are a collection of recent articles about the firm, which may give an indication into why it is such a sought after brewer.

SAB Miller announces Meantime acquisiton

The big story from this year for the brewer was the purchase of London craft brewer Meantime. SAB Miller said in May that it planned to grow sales of Meantime nationally, and export opportunities for European markets. It also said that it would keep chief executive of Meantime, Nick Miller - who was also the former managing director of Miller Brands - the UK division of SAB - in the leadership role at the craft brewer.

Read more on the Meantime deal here.

The success of Peroni...

In July 2014, SAB Miller announced that the on-going popularity of Italian lager, Peroni, had driven a 23% uplift in UK net revenues. It also announced that its Czech beer brands, Pilsner Urquell and Kozel, had also put in a good performance.

Over the years, Peroni has also put in good performances - and SAB has put a large amount of cash into the beer, including a £28m push in 2006.

Read more on Peroni here.

It's scholarship scheme aimed at enforcing responsible drinking...

In November 2013, SAB Miller said it would ensure that by 2016 it would have provided scholarships for 10,000 people employed by small and medium-sized licensed businesses in the UK, in a programme run by the BII.

The £6bn Foster's bid...

In August 2011, SAB Miller made a public statement about its hostile takeover bid for Foster's Group at Australian $4.90 per share. A previous bid was rejected by the board in June - and by December, the deal was done...

Reports UK beer volume growth of 35% in first quarter of 2011...

SAB Miller reported lager volumes were up significantly at the beginning of 2011 - saying growth was 'in line with expectations'.

Miller Brands launches a new beer, Kozel

In September 2010, the UK division launched Czech beer Kozel, as part of its movement into the (still) growing world beers market.

The purchasing of lager brand, Grolsch

In 2007 a deal was done to purchase Dutch brewer Grolsch for 816m euros. The chief executive at the time said it was a 'powerful addition'.

The Miller element...

In May 2002, South African Breweries took over Miller - then a US brewer owned by tobacco giant Philip Morris - in a £3.8bn deal, creating the SAB Miller brand.

It meant that the firm was the second largest brewer on the planet - behind the firm that now seeks to purchase it, Anheuser-Busch, now AB InBev.