The big build-up
HOW the group has grown to be a world-wide gaint of the brewing industry.
October 1999 - the Czech Republic's leading brewers Pilsner Urquell and Radegast are acquired.
March 2000 - India's Narang Breweries acquired (majority shareholding).
January 2001 - joint venture established in China's Anhui Province and three breweries acquired in Benghu and Hefei.
May 2001 - three more breweries acquired in Dalian Province, making SAB the third largest brewer in China.
June 2001 - India's Mysore Breweries acquired (majority shareholding).
August 2001 - Bere Timisoreana, number four in Romania, acquired (majority shareholding).
October 2001 - joint venture consolidates its position in China, acquiring Blue Sword breweries.
November 2001 - Rochees brewery is third acquisition in India (majority shareholding). Sole breweries in El Salvador and Honduras acquired, and joint venture formed in Central America called BevCo (majority shareholding). China's Snow Leopard Brewery, near Chang Chun and the Euro Dongxihu Brewery in Wuhan acquired.
All SAB's Chinese operations are managed through its joint venture company CRB (China Resource Beverages Ltd), in which it has a 49% stake. The remaining 51% stake is held by CRE (China Resource Enterprises Ltd).
SAB also has breweries in Hungary and Poland, Slovakia, Russia and the Canary Islands. In Africa it has a majority shareholding or manages breweries in Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
