SABMillers

SABMillers, more commonly known as SABMiller plc, was a multinational brewing and beverage company based in London, United Kingdom, with roots in South Africa. The group emerged from the merger of South African Breweries (SAB) and Miller Brewing Company and grew into one of the world’s largest brewers, with a diversified portfolio of beer brands and beverage products across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

Formation and growth: SABMiller was formed through the merger of SAB and Miller in the late 1990s, and began trading publicly in the early 2000s on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. The company expanded its footprint through acquisitions and organic growth, building a broad brand portfolio that included mainstream beers as well as premium and regional offerings. It pursued a strategy of combining strong local brewing heritage with international brands to serve diverse markets.

Portfolio and operations: At its height, SABMiller operated across multiple regions and owned or invested in a range of beer brands and brewing subsidiaries. The company supplemented its beer business with soft drinks and other beverages in certain markets, leveraging its distribution network to reach a wide consumer base. Its operations were organized to manage both legacy SAB and Miller brands and newer regional labels.

Acquisition and dissolution: In 2016, SABMiller was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) in a deal valued at about $107 billion. As part of the transaction, AB InBev divested certain assets to satisfy competition concerns, including the U.S. MillerCoors venture, which Molson Coors subsequently took over. SABMiller’s remaining brands and operations were folded into AB InBev’s global portfolio, and the SABMiller corporate entity was subsequently delisted and ceased to function as an independent company.

Legacy: The SABMiller name largely disappeared from independent corporate use, but its former brands and regional businesses continue under AB InBev or through divested arrangements in various markets. The term SABMillers is often used informally to refer to the historic SABMiller group and its former subsidiaries.