ABSTRACT
On July 20, 2012, Heineken, a Dutch brewery offered S$5.125 billion (Singapore dollars; approximately US$4.1 billion) to buy Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd (APB; formerly, Malayan Breweries Limited) from its Singapore-based joint venture partner, Fraser and Neave, Limited. (F&N). At that point, Heineken and F&N had joint control over APB through the joint venture vehicle Asia Pacific Investments Pte Ltd (APIPL). Brewery business under the joint arrangement had moved on quite predictably from the time APB was formed in 1931. However, the calm changed to high drama when Thai Beverage, owned by one of Thailand's tycoons, made a bid for F&N and APB. Heineken was quick to respond by aggressively buying shares of APB, leading to a large control premium being paid in the final offer price. The bidding war was largely motivated by the Dutch and Thai beer giants, each wanting to own the iconic Tiger beer brand that was owned by APB and thus take control of APB's strong market share in the fast-growing market of Asia. The Heineken bid for APB presents an interesting case study regarding the motivations for acquisitions, the nature of control, and accounting for acquisitions. The case also presents rich issues in accounting for changes in ownership interests with and without gain of control.
