Organisational changes in SABMiller’s African operations

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SABMiller plc today announces the implementation of a number of organisational changes in its African operations with effect from 1 January 2012, as part of SABMiller’s strategic alliance agreement with the Castel Group.

The changes involve the combination of the operational management of the Castel and SABMiller businesses in Nigeria and Angola, with the Nigerian businesses being managed in future by SABMiller, and the Angolan businesses being managed by Castel. Amendments have also been agreed to the terms of the strategic alliance agreement to provide for improved sharing of best practice and technical expertise, and a more precise methodology for the existing mutual pre-emptive rights over the groups’ respective beverage operations in Africa (excluding South Africa and Namibia).

The existing strategic alliance agreement, pursuant to which SABMiller has a 20% shareholding in Castel’s other African beverage interests and Castel has a 38% shareholding in SABMiller’s principal African holding company, is otherwise unchanged.

Commenting on the changes, Graham Mackay, Chief Executive of SABMiller said:

“Our relationship with the Castel Group has gone from strength to strength over the decade that the strategic alliance has been in place. We believe that these operational changes will benefit our local businesses, our minority partners, and our customers and consumers in both Angola and Nigeria, and demonstrate both groups’ long-term commitment to the alliance.”

Pierre Castel, Executive Chairman of the Castel Group, said:

“After ten years of alliance, it was deemed appropriate to review and upgrade our partnership with a stronger focus on synergies.”

About SABMiller plc

SABMiller is one of the world’s largest brewers with brewing interests and distribution agreements across six continents. The group’s wide portfolio of brands includes global brands such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft, and Grolsch, as well as leading local brands such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow, Tyskie and Victoria Bitter. SABMiller is also one of the world’s largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, the group reported US$4,491 million adjusted pre-tax profit and group revenue of US$28,311 million. SABMiller plc is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.

About SABMiller’s African operations and the Castel Group
SABMiller and Castel are two of the leading brewers in Africa with strong and complementary market positions on the continent.

SABMiller operates in 15 countries in Africa: Botswana, Comores, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mayotte, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The Castel Group has beer, carbonated soft drink and mineral water interests, primarily in west and central Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Its operations cover Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, C?te d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia.

Values of the gross assets involved

As at 31 December 2010 the value of the gross assets of Castel’s Nigerian businesses was US$75 million respectively. As at 30 September 2011 the value of the gross assets of SABMiller’s Angolan businesses was US$918 million.

Financial impact

As a result of the changes, the groups will share at the strategic alliance level, the aggregate profits and cash flows of their operations in Nigeria and Angola based primarily on the relative contributions of their businesses in each country. In Nigeria the businesses are of approximately equal size. In Angola, the Castel business is approximately three times as large as SABMiller’s operations. Accordingly, the transaction is expected to have an immaterial impact on SABMiller pro forma earnings per share.