Heineken, Diageo end joint ventures in South Africa, Namibia

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LONDON/BRUSSELS, July 28 (Reuters) - Diageo (LSE: DGE.L - news) and Heineken (Other OTC: HEINY - news) have agreed to dissolve their joint ventures in South Africa and Namibia, so the British spirits maker and Dutch brewer can pursue their own growth strategies in the countries.

Diageo said on Tuesday it would receive net cash of 2.5 billion rand ($198.4 million) from transactions expected to be completed by the end of the year. Heineken said the overall cost to it would be 1.9 billion rand ($151.40 million).

Following 11 years of cooperation between the two companies, national distribution and sales networks are in place, along with marketing platforms. Diageo said it has become market leader in spirits in South Africa with a 40 percent share and felt it had the necessary scale to go it alone.

"We were feeling it's time to move to the next stage of growth where each of the JV partners can pursue their own commercial agendas independently, Diageo focusing on spirits and (ready-to-drink beverages) and Heineken and (Namibia Breweries Ltd) NBL on beer," Jeff Milliken, who will run Diageo's South Africa business, told reporters.

Nomura analysts said in a note the collapse of the ventures may suggest that a "total beverage alcohol" approach in Africa, where one company sells various types of alcoholic drinks, does not necessarily work.

"Could this encourage thinking that the company could sell or spin off beer as a whole?" Nomura said.

Diageo generates one-fifth of its revenue from beer, mostly the Guinness brand, which is growing more slowly than spirits. Despite the weak performance, Diageo often says the business is critical, since it gives it a route to market in Africa, making it easier to sell its spirits such as Johnnie Walker whisky.

"Beer is still a very important part of the strategy in Africa," said Diageo's Milliken.

Heineken, the world's third-largest brewer, said it would increase its stake in DHN Drinks, the entity holding the licences for the drinks portfolios, to 75 percent, with Namibia Breweries Ltd (NBL) owning the other 25 percent.

The two would also own the same stakes in the Sedibeng brewery in Gauteng, Johannesburg, which was built in 2009.

Heineken and NBL have agreed a new joint venture in South Africa, the region's biggest beer market which is seen growing at about 1.5 percent per year.

Heineken would also take Diageo's 15 percent stake in NBL, increasing its indirect ownership to 29.9 percent ($1 = 12.5494 rand) (Reporting by Martinne Geller in London and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels; Editing by Mark Potter and David Evans)