Anheuser-Busch InBev was considering the sale of its operations in Central and Eastern Europe, Belgian newspaper Le Soir reported on June 13, as quoted by Reuters.
The world's largest brewer had packaged 11 breweries producing a total of 15 million hectolitres of beer a year and planned to sell it in one deal, according to the report. The breweries were in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia and Montenegro.
Anheuser-Busch InBev is Bulgaria's second-largest beer company, with breweries in Plovdiv and Haskovo. Its biggest domestic brand is Kamenitza, but it also owns smaller brands Astika, Bourgasko and Slavena. It also sells Stella Artois, Staropramen and Beck's beer in the country.
The report said the brewer no longer considered its Central European operations strategic and wanted to focus on its north and south American businesses. The company also needs cash to repay the debt it took on when InBev bought Anheuser-Busch for $52 billion last year.