The third-largest deal in corporate history was finally completed this week after 95 per cent of investors voted in favour of Anheuser-Busch InBev's (ABI) £79bn takeover of London-listed SABMiller (SAB).
There had been some dissenting voices from minority shareholders, including Aberdeen Asset Management, who felt even ABI's improved offer of £45 per share (up from £44) wasn't good enough. ABI agreed to up the amount after sterling's fall after the EU referendum made the cash and shares option - which favours SAB's two largest shareholders Altria and BevCo because the stock can't be sold for five years - better than the cash-only option, which would have been the preferred option for most shareholders.
Minority shareholders also had a separate vote given Altria and BevCo's dominance on the shareholder register, although 86.5 per cent of the former group still voted in favour.
