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Anheuser-Busch InBev is moving fast to save its Mexican ambitions. The world's biggest brewer has rejigged its $20-billion (U.S.) buyout of Grupo Modelo two weeks after regulators objected, worrying that U.S. drinkers would suffer. In response, AB InBev is relinquishing any claim to Modelo's beers stateside. That could prevent a long legal fight, while keeping the deal's rationale largely intact.
Modelo's flagship tipple, Corona, is handled in the United States by Crown, a joint venture between the Mexican group and Constellation Brands. As part of the original deal, Constellation was already due to take full control of Crown. But the Department of Justice thought this failed to safeguard competition. AB InBev would still supply the beer, and had an option to buy back the U.S. rights later.
Now Constellation gets permanent rights. It also gets an independent source of supply: the U.S. group will buy and upgrade a Modelo brewery near the Texan border, which in time will churn out all the Corona the United States can drink. For this, AB InBev will receive $2.9-billion, or an acceptable nine times EBITDA.
AB InBev, meanwhile, has found an extra $400-million of possible annual cost synergies, taking the deal's total to $1-billion. That is, of course, a good way to drown out the possible bad news of a watered-down deal. But the new targets are plausible.
Saving money is AB InBev's raison d'etre: look at Anheuser-Busch, where it cut costs equating to 15 per cent of sales. It has had months to pore over Modelo's books. And many thought the earlier targets overcautious, too.
In any case, AB InBev wants this deal to give it heft in Mexico, and to turn Corona into a global blockbuster. Those strategic goals remain credible. And financially it makes sense: Jefferies reckons the revamped deal could still boost profit by 10 to 12 per cent. AB InBev's market value rose €5.1-billion ($6.8-billion) in short order. Pragmatism can be rewarding.