Distell takeover: Lawyer accuses SAB owner of eyeing Hunter's, Savanna

Legal counsel for Heineken said on Thursday that AB InBev was being "opportunistic" by intervening in the Competition Tribunal's hearing into its R40-billion takeover of Distell, suggesting the brewing giant was hoping to use the process to get its hands on either of the JSE-listed liquor group's more lucrative Hunter's or Savanna brands.

Advocate Jerome Wilson, SC, argued on Thursday at the hearing in Pretoria that after the Competition Commission ruled Heineken would have to dispose of its Strongbow cider brand as part of the merger conditions, South African Breweries (SAB), which is owned by AB InBev, had indicated an initial interest in acquiring it.

But he said SAB had then "determined that Strongbow wouldn't fit" its portfolio and "decided on that basis to withdraw from the process and seek the disposal of one of those two brands [Hunter's and Savanna] instead".