Page 5 - AB INBEV MODEL ANSWER 1
P. 5

P a ge  | 5

               B.  DETAILED REPORT


               4.      Detailed findings and recommendations

                 st
               1   Priority: Integration, Synergies and Execution Risk


               This issue is a strategic threat and an opportunity in our SWOT analysis (Appendix 1) as market

               sentiment has not been as favourable as we anticipated (share price only rose by 1.8% compared to
               the 25% we envisaged). We may have overpaid, or, may fail to execute the integration and realise all
               synergies within 4 years, threatening to destroy shareholder value. On the other hand, it is also a

               strategic opportunity to consolidate our global leadership position! Let’s address the two key questions:

               1.  Is the deal fairly valued?
               As shown in Appendix 3.4, SABMiller is currently valued at US$98,9 billion and they have accepted,
               in principle, our offer to acquire them for US$105,5 billion –a 7% premium (US$6,6 billion). The post-

               strategic tax cost and revenue synergies, taking into account the 4 annual cost payments towards
               realizing the synergies and our cost of capital of 10%, is valued at US$ 8,1 billion (Appendix 2.3). In
               theory, the maximum that AB InBev could pay for SABMiller will be its market value + the envisaged

               synergies. In this case, US$107 (98.9 + 8.1) billions. It has however, managed to secure SABMiller’s
               acceptance of US$105.5 billion, so it can be concluded that the deal is fairly valued (not overvalued).

               2.  Can we execute and deliver on the synergies?

               As Appendix 3.4 also shows,  81% (6.6 / 8.1) of the synergies is being paid over to  SABMiller’s
               shareholders, whilst AB InBev is only retaining 19%. Should these synergies, 92% (2.450/2.660) of
               which are cost synergies, notoriously easier to quantify, but hardest to deliver – not realise over the
               next 4 years as envisaged, we could see a spectacular failure of this acquisition. This is where a sound

               project integration and  management strategy is needed,  in order  to maximize the chances of  a
               successful outcome. We have accordingly, applied Earned Value and feedforward control techniques
               in Appendix 3.1 and 3.2 to assess our chances on this front:


               Appendix 3.1 Project integration: We plan to spend US$290 million (BAC) in 4 equal instalments over
               4 years. Presuming we initiated the integration by October 1, 2016 and accomplish 50% in 2 years,
               we should have spent half that cost (US$145million) by 3  October 2018. However, our recent forecast
                                                                   rd
               shows only US$67 million would have been spent/earned (BCWP) at that midpoint, meanwhile the
               projected costs (ACWP) show we would have spent US$231million. This means we will be almost
               54% behind schedule (SV%) on the integration, that is just over 2 years past the 4 years plan (54% *
               4 years) and would be overrunning on costs (CV) by 59% as of this mid-way point. Should the trends


                                                       Developed by The CharterQuest Institute for 'The CFO Business Case Study Competition 2018'
                                                                          www.charterquest.co.za | Email: thecfo@charterquest.co.za
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10