SABMiller secures $1.2 bln Grolsch takeover

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - SABMiller (SAB.L), the world's second-biggest brewer, has acquired 94.7 percent of Grolsch NV GROLc.AS shares, securing its 816 million euro ($1.2 billion) takeover of the Dutch brewer.

SABMiller, which has offered to buy Grolsch at 48.25 euros a share, said in a statement on Wednesday its bid was unconditional and shareholders who had not yet offered their shares could tender them until February 20.

About 79.9 percent of shares were tendered by Grolsch shareholders, in addition to 14.8 percent of shares it had bought, SABMiller said.

SABMiller had secured support from the key family shareholders which owned 37 percent of the Dutch brewer before making its bid.

The deal is a sign of consolidation in the global brewing industry as brewers look to cut costs as input prices for malting barley and aluminum cans have risen and to create a bigger platform for their top brands.

Denmark's Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) and Dutch Heineken (HEIN.AS) agreed last month to buy and break up rival Scottish & Newcastle SCTN.L in a 7.8 billion pounds ($15.3 billion) takeover.

London-based SABMiller, which makes Miller Lite, Castle and Peroni beers, has said it planned to expand the Grolsch brand across Africa and Latin America, where the premium beer market is still in its infancy.

The Dutch company is best known for its Grolsch premium pilsner and its green swing-top bottles, first introduced in 1897. Grolsch currently makes the bulk of its income in the Netherlands. Britain is its second-biggest market.

SABMiller would become the world's largest brewer, topping current leader InBev INTB.BR, and Heineken would move up a notch to become the world's No.3, assuming the Grolsch and S&N takeovers are finalized, researcher Plato Logic said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Gilbert Kreijger; editing by Sue Thomas)