How much growth can AB InBev tap?
What megadeal is next on AB InBev’s list?
Huge acquisitions have been part of AB InBev’s culture since it set out to become the most powerful player, writes Stafford Thomas
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is the beer industry’s undisputed giant, weighing in with a US$200bn market cap, 500 beer brands — including seven of the world’s 10 most valuable — and revenue that will hit $54bn this year. These credentials alone make AB InBev worthy of attention by any SA investor looking for exceptional global diversification. But CEO Carlos Brito is still far from satisfied with the group’s scale, despite having closed the $103bn acquisition of SABMiller just 10 months ago. He has set his sights on almost doubling annual revenue to $100bn by 2022 at the latest. It is a huge ask and one that speaks volumes of the superambitious Brazilian’s relentless quest for scale. The $100bn goal is what the brewer terms an "internal stretch target" and has as a huge carrot on a stick the 2020 Dream Incentive Plan. Share option-based, the plan is potentially worth $350m or more in total to the 65 senior managers —excluding Brito and his 15 top-ranking executives — it has been ...
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