E-Malt.com News article: Latin America: Purchase of shares of Quilmes International (Bermuda) Ltd.

Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa) S.A. announced on August 4 that it has entered into an agreement with its controlling shareholders, Beverage Associates (BAC) Corp. and Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - AmBev, pursuant to which it has agreed to purchase from BAC its 5.32% equity interest in Quinsa's subsidiary, Quilmes International (Bermuda) Ltd (QIB). The purchase price for the QIB shares will be determined pursuant to a formula that calculates the value of QIB based on QIB's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005. Under this formula, QIB will be valued at 6 times QIB's EBITDA for 2005 less QIB's net debt as of the end of 2005. The estimated purchase price is $110 million. Upon completion of this transaction, Quinsa will own 92.95% of QIB and AmBev will own the remaining 7.05%.

Quinsa expects to acquire title to BAC's QIB shares and to deposit the estimated purchase price into an escrow account within approximately 30 days. Once the final purchase price is determined and certain other conditions are satisfied, the escrowed funds will be released to BAC and Quinsa and BAC will make any payments necessary to reflect any difference between the funds released to BAC and the final purchase price plus interest thereon (accrued at a rate of LIBOR plus 2%) from the fifth business day after the date hereof until the full purchase price is paid to BAC.

The agreement also amends certain other provisions of the existing stock purchase agreement between BAC and AmBev.

Quinsa is a Luxembourg-based holding company that currently controls 87.63 percent of QIB. Quinsa, through QIB, controls beverage and malting businesses in five Latin American countries. Its beer brands are strong market leaders in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, and have a presence in Chile. Further, pursuant to the Company's strategic alliance with AmBev, it has entered into license and distribution agreements to produce and sell the AmBev brands in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Similarly, under the agreements, AmBev may produce and distribute Quinsa's brands in Brazil.

The Company also has bottling and franchise agreements with PepsiCo, and thus accounts for 100% of PepsiCo beverage sales in Uruguay and more than 80% of PepsiCo beverage sales in Argentina.

Quinsa's Class A and Class B shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Quinsa's American Depository Shares, representing the Company's Class B shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Quinsa's web address: www.quinsa.com or www.quinsa.com.ar


05 August, 2005