Bill Gates has purchased a 3.76% stake in the Dutch drinks giant Heineken Holding NV worth N$16.6 billion (US$902 million), despite the fact that the billionaire founder of Microsoft has previously stated that he is “not a big beer drinker.”
The filing by the Netherlands’ Financial Markets Authority confirms that the shares were purchased on February 17th.
Heineken Holding currently owns a controlling stake in brewer Heineken NV.
Gates bought the shares from Mexico’s FEMSA, which is selling out of the brewing company. A separate filing, also dated February 17th, showed that FEMSA sold all 18 million shares it held in Heineken Holding.
Gates purchased 6.65 million shares in Heineken Holding individually, while 4.18 million shares were bought through his philanthropic organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust.
The Gates’ purchase of 10.8 million shares, triggered a disclosure requirement under Dutch stock market rules.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable foundation launched by the billionaire and his former wife, was not immediately available for comment.
The acquisition coincides with Heineken International BV’s plans to acquire a controlling interest in Namibian Breweries Investment Holdings Limited (NBLIH).
Heineken NV already owns a 49.99% interest in NBLIH and has offered to buy Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies (O&L)’s 50.01% stake in the national brewer.-The Brief/Business Insider
