Thai Billionaire’s Family Tops Heineken Bid for APB Stake
Fraser & Neave Ltd. (FNN) received an unsolicited bid from a family member of Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi for a stake in Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. (APB) that’s 10 percent higher than Heineken NV (HEIA)’s offer.
The S$55-a-share bid came from Kindest Place Groups, owned by Chotiphat Bijananda, Charoen’s son-in-law, for 18.8 million shares or 7.3 percent of APB, Singapore-based F&N said in a statement today. Charoen is the controlling shareholder of Thai Beverage Pcl.
F&N’s board of directors last week recommended Heineken NV’s offer of S$50 a share for its 40 percent stake in APB to shareholders. Heineken already owns a 42 percent stake and said on July 20 that it would offer as much as S$7.5 billion for the rest.
Heineken has sought full control of Singapore-based APB as it attempts to protect its hold over a key emerging-market asset. Thai Beverage (THBEV), controlled by the billionaire, last month bid for a 22 percent stake in F&N. The company owned by his son-in-law also acquired about an almost 9 percent stake in APB. Brewing assets in high-growth economies are in short supply after a decade of consolidation in the industry.
Vichate Tantiwanich a senior vice president at Thai Bev, said by phone that he couldn’t comment on the bid by Kindest Place.
To contact the reporter on this story: Clementine Fletcher in London at cfletcher5@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Wong at swong139@bloomberg.net
Heineken Raises Its Bid for Asian Tiger Brewer
Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
Heineken has sought full control of Singapore-based Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. as it attempts to protect its hold over a key emerging-market asset.
Heineken has sought full control of Singapore-based Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. as it attempts to protect its hold over a key emerging-market asset. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
Billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi
Udo Weitz/Bloomberg
Thai Beverage, controlled by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, last month bid for a 22 percent stake in F&N.
Thai Beverage, controlled by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, last month bid for a 22 percent stake in F&N. Photographer: Udo Weitz/Bloomberg
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