[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Beer dynasties sell $843 million stake in AB InBev
World's largest brewer is pushing investment into 'megabrands' like Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra to help drive growth
Key Takeaways:
- Eugenie Patri Sebastien sold about 10 million AB InBev shares for 731 million euros in an Aug. 3 block trade, sending the brewer’s stock lower.
- The sale followed a 37% surge in AB InBev shares through July 31, as the brewer pursues growth through major brands despite weakening beer consumption.
- JPMorgan arranged the offering for Belgian family shareholders as AB InBev continues investing in Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra.
Some of the historic family owners of Anheuser-Busch InBev sold a 731 million-euro ($843 million) stake in the world’s largest brewer, after its shares surged at the start of this year.
Eugenie Patri Sebastien offered about 10 million shares at 73.10 euros apiece in a block trade, according to terms of the deal seen by Bloomberg News. AB InBev slid as much as 2.5% to 73.32 euros at the open on Aug. 3, after the stock placing was priced at a 2.8% discount to the July 31 close.
READ MORE: Anheuser-Busch InBev reports unexpected rise in beer demand
AB InBev, the maker of Stella Artois, Corona and Michelob Ultra, was created through a series of increasingly large acquisitions and combinations dating to the 1980s. One of the most transformational changes occurred when Belgium’s Interbrew merged with Brazil’s Ambev to create a transatlantic brewing giant. Further deals included the takeover of Mexico’s Grupo Modelo and then SABMiller.
The Luxembourg-based Eugenie Patri Sebastien is one of the vehicles that manages the interests of the some of the brewer’s Belgian owners including the Van Damme, de Mevius and de Spoelberch families.
Last week, AB InBev reported that its sponsorship of the soccer World Cup boosted demand for Michelob Ultra in the U.S. and other beers in Mexico but it was not enough to offset weak volumes in the region that includes China. The stock had soared 37% in 2026 through the July 31 close, which had made it one of the top five performers in the Euro Stoxx 50 index.
AB InBev is pushing investment into its “megabrands” like Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra to help drive growth at a time when there is a slowdown in drinking in several key markets. Cost-of-living pressures, along with concerns over the negative health impact of consuming alcohol, have led to beer consumption declining in Europe and the U.S. in recent years.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. arranged the offering.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. ranks No. 12 on the Transport Topics list of top beverage carriers.
