Heineken Takes Amstel Away From SABMiller

From SABMiller Website... www.sabreweries.com

Message to the SAB Community

Amstel Lager

The south African Breweries Limited (SAB) will no longer be brewing, marketing or distributing Amstel Lager in South Africa. the licence, held by Heineken, has been terminated by them with immediate effect. Heineken have invoked a term of the agreement which refers to a change in the shareholding of SABMiller, and is based on our purchase of Bavaria in South America last year. An arbitration process found that SABMiller’s transaction in South America in 2005 constituted a change in control of the group and consequently could be regarded, in the reasonable opinion of Heineken, to be contrary to the interests of the Heineken Group, which provided it with the right to termination.

SAB has been brewing and distributing this brand under licence in South Africa for 40 years and has built the brand up from its mainstream positioning worldwide to becoming a premium product in South Africa. As one of our country’s most notable success stories, SAB has grown into sABMiller plc, now the second largest brewer in the world. Clearly, our global strategy has worked rather too well and Heineken did not expect that a brewer from a small country could expand and succeed the way we have. Heineken has said that their objective was to restrict our south African and international success, but we find it really difficult to believe that SABMiller’s having a new 15% shareholder as a result of the Bavaria transaction in south America - on the other side of the world – poses any threat whatsoever to Heineken’s interests in south Africa.

We certainly did not want to give up this brand. we have built it from scratch in south Africa and have put more than 40 years of product development behind its success. we have put together a brief communication to all in the SAB family, to answer some of the questions you may have. SAB employees will receive a full briefing from the company, while all our customers will receive additional information from our trade representatives. while we deeply regret any inconvenience or stockouts of this brand, we can assure all customers and consumers that SAB will continue to provide a full and broad portfolio of brands across the premium spectrum.

Our consumers and customers are our first priority and we will draw upon our significant global premium portfolio to make sure that we continue to provide consumers with a comprehensive choice of differentiated and superior products. SAB has a capacity and capability that is much admired throughout the world and looking ahead, our challenge is to rise to the task and show that we’re more than up to it.

Tony van Kralingen
Managing Director

Afrikaans Music!!!

This is the latest Afrikaans song to hit it big time. It was an old Anglo-Boer war song about Genreal DeLaRey, who was a Boer hero. This song come on in the office the other day and all the Afrikaans guys had a go at us with British heritage. Its still a lekker afrikaans song!!!

BAT RUN!

The Bat Run Crew, from Left to Right, TOP: Andrew, Ryan, Dan, Riaan. Bottom: Jade and Perrie. Still At It: Stephen (Talk about Commitment!)

Hello Everyone...

On Saturday, 74 people and myself took part in the BAT RUN. A 30km race/fun run which starts at the top of Kloof Neck, along the front of Table Mountain, to the top of Devil's Peak, back down to the bottom of Platterkip Gorge, up to Maclare's Beacon, back down to the road in front of TM and then to the top of Lion's Head, back down and finishing at the top of Kloof Neck Rd.

There were 6 of us from CAPESTORM which took part, although I had to pull out after Devil's Peak, due to low blood sugar.... Here are some of the pics... We had a fanstastic time and I guess i need to work on my fitness for next year....

Dr. Bax coming down Devil's, still going strong

Dan Slater and Riaan Fourie at the Bottom of Platterkip Gorge

Stephen Hector at the bottom of Platterkip

I might be smiling, but I'm feeling the pain that the bottom of Platterkip

Perrie van der Spuy looking strong after coming down off Platterkip

Jade getting a drink after coming down off Platterkip

What a Party at Opium in Town!

3 Friends and some random chick at Opium on Friday (7th Dec) night...

From Left to Right: 'Random Chick', Roy, Bryan and Myself

Karaoke for the Deaf!

South African Reality

Or maybe just JHB....

The Deadpan Wood Golf and Lifestyle Estate "Advert"

Listen and learn... Who wants to sign up...

Ryan

Movember Starts Tomorrow!

I've always wanted to do something for charity. I always thought that I would perhaps shave my head for cancer etc... But, I have found a get 'thing' to do for charity and we start tomorrow! Thats because its MOvember.

Here's an extract from the website:

Movember (the month formally known as November) is a charity event held during November each year.

At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible. Movember culminates at the end of the month at the gala parties. These glamorous and groomed events will see Tom Selleck and David Boon look-a-likes battle it out on the catwalk for their chance to take home the prestigious Man of Movember title.

So! You All have to sponsor me we can raise money for a good cause!! Please visit the site and tell me what you think - www.movember.com... I just hope I can grow a mo thats decent, watch this space and I'll keep you posted...

Cheers

Ryan