New owner of Apatin Brewer to keep brands - "CVC Capital partners" wants to become regional champion

"CVC Capital partners", which has bought the businesses in central Europe from brewer "AB Inbev" ("Anheuser-Busch InBev"), plans to keep the existing brands and operations in Serbia and other countries.

Belgian "Inbev" has sold the businesses in nine countries of central Europe, including the Apatin Brewer in Serbia, the Nikšić Brewer in Montenegro, and the Zagreb Brewer in Croatia, for over 3 billion USD.

- We plan to back the companies to keep operating as before. These are good businesses with fantastic brands and strong managements and staffs. We plan to keep the existing brands and business operations in Serbia and other countries - people from "CVC" told Beta agency.

By the way, this is not the first investment of "CVC" in the drink industry - that company also owns brewer "Belhaven" in Scotland, several manufacturers of drinks, including "Royal Bolls" in Netherlands, as well as pub chains in Great Britain.

The company with the headquarters in Luxembourg sees great potential in Central and East Europe.

- "CVC" was impressed by the fact that the brands had such long tradition, as well as by the quality of manpower. That is an excellent base for investments, as well as for growth. "CVC" is dedicated to investments in business with the aim of becoming regional champion - it is stated in the announcement.

"CVC Capital partners" is a global financial, consulting and investment company. It owns 51 companies all around the world, of which annual sales amount to 88 billion EUR.

"CVC" is the owner of the Apatin Brewer in Serbia, which used to be the property of "Inbev".

The Apatin Brewer, of which most famous brand is "Jelen", turned 14 billion RSD worth of incomes in 2008. The brewer sold 3.6m hl of beer, 4.2% more than in 2007.

By selling businesses in central Europe, properties in South Korea, Scotland and Ireland, and packaging unit and fun park in the USA, "Inbev" has collected 9.5 billion USD out of 52 billion USD it needs to provide to cover the costs of takeover of "Anheuser-Busch".