Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV announced the organizational structure, leadership team and other key appointments for the combined group intended to be implemented following completion of the recommended business combination with SABMiller plc (SABMiller). This organizational design would allow the combined group to focus on delivering its ambitious long-term organic growth objectives while integrating the two businesses, capturing the best of both. Through the largely complementary geographical footprints and brand portfolios of AB InBev and SABMiller, the combined group would have operations in virtually every major beer market and would provide tremendous growth opportunities across new and existing markets around the world.

Global Headquarters: The combined group will be headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and will have its Global Functional Management Office in New York. Following the completion of the combination, it is intended that a presence will be retained in SABMiller's UK offices in Woking for people working on integration and business continuity for a transitional period, allowing the combined group to fully capture synergies and best practices while continuing to grow the business. Any changes would be implemented with due respect for applicable legal and works council considerations and consultation requirements.

Zone Structure: To maximize growth opportunities and build on the strengths of both SABMiller and AB InBev in their respective markets, from completion the combined group will be organized into nine geographical Zones. This design has been carefully thought out to allow for focus on organic growth while being able to capture the announced transaction synergies. The Zones and their corresponding countries will be: North America (headquartered in St.

Louis): United States and Canada; Middle Americas (headquartered in Mexico City): Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras; Latin America North (headquartered in São Paulo): Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, St. Vincent, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Dominica and the Caribbean; Latin America South (headquartered in Buenos Aires): Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia; and Latin America COPEC (headquartered in Bogotá): Colombia, Peru and Ecuador; Europe (headquartered in Leuven): UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine, Russia and Export Europe and Middle East (EEME); Asia Pacific North (headquartered in Shanghai): China, South Korea and Japan; Asia Pacific South (headquartered in Melbourne): Australia, New Zealand, India, Vietnam and other South and Southeast Asian countries; Africa (headquartered in Johannesburg): South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, Uganda, Ethiopia, African Islands, Tanzania, South Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. Following the establishment of these Zone headquarters, it is intended that existing SABMiller hubs in Miami, Florida, Hong Kong and Beijing will be phased out within a few months after completion of the combination.

The future of the SABMiller Europe hub in Zug will be determined as part of the process of divestment of SABMiller's Central and Eastern European businesses, which, as previously announced, would be implemented following completion of the combination, which the company expects to take place on October 10, 2016. The Executive Board of Management (EBM) will be composed of the Zone Presidents and Functional Heads, or ‘Chiefs,' reporting to Carlos Brito, AB InBev's Chief Executive Officer. Mauricio Leyva of SABMiller, now Managing Director of SAB (Pty) Ltd., will join the EBM as Zone President, Middle Americas.

Sabine Chalmers, Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer; Michel Doukeris, Chief Sales Officer (effective January 2017); Felipe Dutra, Chief Financial & Technology Officer; Pedro Earp, Chief Disruptive Growth Officer; Claudio Garcia, Chief People Officer; Peter Kraemer, Chief Supply Officer; Tony Milikin, Chief Procurement Officer; Miguel Patricio, Chief Marketing Officer. Transitional Roles: David Almeida, Chief Integration Officer; Claudio Braz Ferro, Chief Supply Integration Officer; Jan Craps, Asia Pacific South; Jean Jereissati, Asia Pacific North (effective January 2017); Mauricio Leyva, Middle Americas; Carlos Lisboa, Latin America South (effective January 2017); Stuart MacFarlane, Europe; Ricardo Moreira, Latin America COPEC; João Castro Neves, North America; Bernardo Pinto Paiva, Latin America North; and Ricardo Tadeu, Africa. Zone presidents: Jan Craps, Asia Pacific South; Jean Jereissati, Asia Pacific North (effective January 2017); Mauricio Leyva, Middle Americas; Carlos Lisboa, Latin America South (effective January 2017); Stuart MacFarlane, Europe; Ricardo Moreira, Latin America COPEC; João Castro Neves, North America; Bernardo Pinto Paiva, Latin America North; and Ricardo Tadeu, Africa.

The company also confirmed that Mr. Jabu Mabuza has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Africa Board. In the coming months Mr. Mabuza and Carlos Brito, who will also join the Africa Board, will work together to finalize the governance and constitution of the Board. Mr. Mabuza is currently the Chairman of the board of Telkom SA, Sphere Holdings and Business Unity South Africa.

He has held a number of board memberships, including the Tanzanian Breweries Limited, Castle Brewing Company (Kenya) and South African Tourism. He was also Group Chief Executive of Tsogo Sun Holdings and CEO of FABCOS Marketing. The company also announced the appointment of Yokesh Maharaj, currently Sales and Distribution Director for SAB (Pty) Ltd., as Business Unit President South Africa, succeeding Mauricio Leyva.

Mr. Maharaj joined SAB in 2001 as a Management Trainee and has since held a number of positions within the organization, including SAB District Manager for the Limpopo Region, SAB General Manager for the East Coast Region, SAB General Manager for the Egoli Region and SAB Human Resources Director. The company confirmed that John Davidson (General Counsel and Corporate Affairs Officer, SABMiller), Johann Nel (Group Human Resources Director, SABMiller) and Mark Bowman (Managing Director, SABMiller Africa) will remain with the combined group for a transitional period of at least 6 months following completion to assist with the critical tasks of integration, talent retention and stakeholder management. All of these changes related to the structure and leadership of the combined group are conditional upon, and would be implemented following, the successful completion of the recommended business combination, which the company anticipates would occur on October 10, 2016, and with due respect for applicable legal and works council considerations and consultation requirements.

These changes are also subject to satisfaction of the conditions to the combination, including the approval of AB InBev and SABMiller shareholders.