4 July 2008

SABMiller plc completes Ukrainian acquisition

SABMiller plc announces that, following recent approval from the Ukrainian competition authorities, it has now completed the acquisition of 99.84% interest in the Ukrainian brewer CJSC Sarmat ("Sarmat"). 

Sarmat is one of the largest brewers in the Ukraine and will operate one brewery in Donetsk in the east of the country with an annual production capacity of 2.9 million hectolitres, producing the Sarmat, Dnipro and Drive Max brands.

Igor Tikhonov will be appointed Managing Director of Sarmat, having previously been Managing Director CIS at SABMiller RUS. Commenting on the appointment, James Wilson, Managing Director of SABMiller RUS said, "I am confident that with Igor's extensive experience and knowledge we will be able to deliver strong results in the Ukraine and benefit from this fast growing and attractive market."

SABMiller will initially focus on upgrading Sarmat's facilities in accordance with its world class global manufacturing standards to increase the operational efficiency and overall effectiveness of the business. SABMiller will also seek to immediately strengthen the existing Sarmat brands and then in the medium term introduce a selection of its international and regional worthmore brands into the Ukraine.

This acquisition represents SABMiller's entry into one of the fastest growing beer markets globally with a four year growth rate to 2006 of 14%(1) p.a. 

(1) Per Plato Logic

About SABMiller plc

SABMiller plc is one of the world's largest brewers with brewing interests or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. The group's brands include premium international beers such as Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as an exceptional range of market leading local brands.  Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is also one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world.

This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.com

High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free of charge from www.sabmiller.com or www.newscast.co.uk

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the "Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement to enter into investment activity.

This document includes "forward-looking statements". These statements may contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" and words of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to the Company's products and services) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which the Company's securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield on such securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

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