02.12.2020
Creditreform Rating has adjusted the unsolicited corporate issuer rating of Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V./S.A. from A- to BBB+. The outlook is negative. The rating adjustment is mainly due to the social and macroeconomic distortions in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to develop dynamically and will lead to a significant decline in sales and earnings in the current fiscal year as well as to a noticeable deterioration of key financial figures. These effects can already be seen in the figures for the current fiscal year. The company's geographical and product-related diversification, its dominant market position as the global market leader in the beer industry, its fundamental earnings and internal financing power, and its established access to the capital market continue to have a positive impact. Due to the ongoing pandemic-related uncertainties and volatility regarding the AB InBev Group's business development, we expect sales and earnings for the fiscal year 2021 and beyond to remain below the results of 2019, which implies an increased risk in view of the high level of debt.