Luxembourg-based holding company Eugénie Patri Sébastien (EPS) has sold a €731 million block trade in Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev).
Belgian shareholder families De Spoelberch, Van Damme, and de Mevius have put approximately 10 million AB InBev shares up for sale at €73.10 apiece (according to Bloomberg) through EPS.
The holding vehicle serves as a core legacy structure managing the family interests stemming from decades of deals, including the merger of Belgium’s Interbrew with Brazil’s Ambev and the subsequent takeover of Anheuser-Busch.
EPS both directly and indirectly controls slightly more than 20% of AB InBev – primarily structured via a Dutch administrative office, Stichting Administratiekantoor (STAK). The 10 million shares represent roughly half a percent of the brewer’s total outstanding share capital.
The brewer is making a comeback through M&A
The sale comes as AB InBev celebrates a strong recovery in its stock (up 35%), spurred by increased sales surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup fever. It also accompanies several broader capital allocation moves by the brewer as it actively manages its portfolio and capital structure to navigate long-term balance sheet pressures tied to the debt burden from its 2016 acquisition of SABMiller.
Following a $6 billion (around €5.2 billion) buyback programme initiated on 29 October 2025, AB InBev repurchased 26,450,911 shares for approximately €1.64 billion ($1.90 billion), representing 1.31 percent of total shares outstanding
In January 2026, the company exercised its five-year call option to reacquire a 49.9 percent minority stake in seven US metal container manufacturing plants from an Apollo Global Management-led consortium for $2.9 billion (around €2.5 billion), restoring full operational control over its canning facilities to mitigate metal tariff risks and secure supply chain continuity.
Furthermore, the brewer completed the acquisition of an 85 percent majority stake in ready-to-drink (RTD) alcohol brand BeatBox Beverages from Future Proof Brands LLC for $493 million on 27 February 2026, expanding its footprint in the fast-growing flavoured beverage segment.
The new sale has pushed AB InBev's share price down by 2.6 percent to €73.28.
