AB InBev Financial Results
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND EQUITY
Our objective to maximize long-term value creation is driven by our focus on three areas: disciplined resource allocation,
robust risk management and an efficient capital structure. We continued to deliver strong free cash flow, generating
approximately 8.5 billion US dollar. As a result, this year we have made significant further progress on our deleveraging
journey. Gross debt reduced by 8.9 billion US dollar to reach 79.9 billion US dollar, resulting in net debt of 69.7 billion US
dollar as of 31 December 2022 as compared to 76.2 billion US dollar as of 31 December 2021.
Net debt is defined as non-current and current interest-bearing loans and borrowings and bank overdrafts minus debt
securities and cash. Net debt is a financial performance indicator that is used by our management to highlight changes in
the company's overall liquidity position. We believe that net debt is meaningful for investors as it is one of the primary
measures our management uses when evaluating our progress towards deleveraging toward our optimal net debt to
normalized EBITDA ratio of around 2x.
Our net debt decreased by 6.5 billion US dollar as of 31 December 2022 compared to 31 December 2021. Aside from
operating results that are net of capital expenditures, the net debt is impacted mainly by the payment of interests and taxes
(6.1 billion US dollar increase of net debt), dividend payments to shareholders of AB InBev and Ambev (2.4 billion US
dollar increase of net debt) and foreign exchange impact on net debt (1.5 billion US dollar decrease of net debt).
Net debt to normalized EBITDA decreased from 3.96x for the 12-month period ending 31 December 2021 to 3.51x for the
12-month period ending 31 December 2022. Our optimal capital structure is a net debt to normalized EBITDA ratio of
around 2x and we will continue to proactively manage our debt portfolio.
Consolidated equity attributable to our equity holders as at 31 December 2022 was 73 398m US dollar, compared to
68 669m US dollar as at 31 December 2021. The net increase in equity results from the profit attributable to equity
shareholders, partially offset by net foreign exchange losses on translation of foreign operations primarily related to the
combined effect of the weakening of the closing rates of the Argentina Pesos, the Chinese Yuan, the Colombian Pesos,
the Euro and the South Africa Rand, which resulted in a foreign exchange translation adjustment of 1 123m US dollar as
of 31 December 2022 (decrease of equity).
Further details on interest-bearing loans and borrowings, repayment schedules and liquidity risk, are disclosed in Note 22
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and Note 27 Risks arising from financial instruments.
As of 31 December 2022, the company's credit rating from Standard & Poor's was BBB+ for long-term obligations and
A-2 for short-term obligations, with a positive outlook, and the company's credit rating from Moody's Investors Service was
Baa1 for long-term obligations and P-2 for short-term obligations, with a positive outlook.
Research and development
Given our focus on innovation, we place a high value on research and development (R&D). In 2022, we spent
268m US dollar in research and development (2021: 298m US dollar). The spend focused on product innovations, market
research, as well as process optimization and product development.
R&D in product innovation covers liquid, packaging and draft innovation. Product innovation consists of breakthrough
innovation, incremental innovation and renovation. The main goal for the innovation process is to provide consumers with
better products and experiences. This implies launching new liquid, new packaging and new draught products that deliver
better experience for the consumer and better performance of top-line results, by increasing our competitiveness in the
relevant markets. With consumers comparing products and experiences offered across very different drink categories and
the offering of beverages increasing, our research and development efforts also require an understanding of the strengths
and weaknesses of other beverage categories, spotting opportunities for beer and developing consumer solutions
(products) that better address consumer need and deliver better experience. This requires understanding consumer
emotions and expectations. Sensory experience, premiumization, convenience, sustainability and design are all central to
our R&D efforts.
R&D in process optimization is primarily aimed at quality improvement, better efficiency, capacity increase (brewery
debottlenecking and addressing volume issues, while minimizing capital expenditure) and improving efficiency. Newly
developed processes, materials and/or equipment are documented in best practices and shared across business regions.
Current projects range from malting to bottling of finished products.
Our R&D efforts are also directed towards reduction of carbon footprint in our operations, but also of our packages. Projects
range
from process
innovations that reduce energy in production process steps, but also focus on making packages lighter,
increase the amount of recycled content, and convert to more returnable packaging.
13View entire presentation