Asahi to buy SABMiller's assets

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd agreed to buy SABMiller Plc's eastern European assets including Pilsner Urquell from Anheuser-Busch InBev NV for 7.3 billion euros ($7.8 billion), as the Budweiser maker ties up loose ends after combining the world's two biggest brewers.

Asahi expects the acquisition to close in the first half of 2017, and is positioning its overseas business as a growth engine to establish itself as a global player, the Tokyo-based brewer said on Tuesday.

The deal further strengthens Asahi's foothold in Europe after Japan's largest brewer agreed to pay 2.55 billion euros for AB InBev's Peroni and Grolsch brands earlier this year. For AB InBev, the divestment brings it a step closer to meeting the antitrust commitments that allowed it to buy SABMiller for about $100 billion.