Bill Gates' Latest Purchase: Beer Company

On February 17, 2023, Microsoft founder Bill Gates bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken, the Dutch drinks giant, for 883 million euros ($902 million). Gates purchased 10.8 million shares from Mexico's FEMSA, which was selling its stake in the brewing company. This move is particularly interesting given that Gates has previously stated that he is not a big beer drinker.

Bill Gates bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken

Bill Gates, the billionaire founder of Microsoft, has bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken, the Dutch drinks giant. Gates purchased 10.8 million shares, worth 883 million euros ($939.87 million) at current market prices, triggering a disclosure requirement under Dutch stock market rules. The acquisition makes Gates a shareholder in one of the world's largest and most profitable brewing businesses.

The shares were purchased from Mexico's FEMSA, which is selling its stake in the brewing company. FEMSA sold all 18 million shares it held in Heineken Holding, with Gates buying 6.65 million shares directly and another 4.18 million shares through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The overall stake is valued at around 848 million euros ($901.6 million to $902 million).

While Gates has previously said he is "not a big beer drinker", he has now invested in a beer company for the second time. In 2007, he bought a $392 million stake in FEMSA, which sold its brewery to Heineken in 2010.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable foundation launched by Gates and his former wife, has also played a key role in deals with other Dutch companies, including the food shop Picnic BV and the fertiliser producer OCI NV, in which it holds a 1.34% stake.

The stake cost Gates 883 million euros

Bill Gates, the billionaire founder of Microsoft, has bought a 3.76% stake in Dutch drinks giant Heineken Holding NV, the parent company of Heineken NV, the world's second-largest brewer. The stake is worth 883 million euros ($939.87 million or $901.6 million as per another source) and was purchased on February 17, 2023.

Gates purchased the shares from Mexico's FEMSA, which sold its entire 18 million share stake in Heineken Holding NV. Gates bought 10.8 million shares, triggering a disclosure requirement under Dutch stock market rules. The purchase makes Gates a shareholder in one of the world's largest and most profitable brewing businesses.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable foundation launched by Gates and his former wife, played a key role in the deal. The foundation has also invested in two other Dutch companies: Picnic BV, an online grocer, and OCI NV, a fertiliser producer, with a 1.34% stake in each.

Gates is not a big beer drinker

Bill Gates has made headlines for his latest business venture: investing in a beer company. The Microsoft founder has acquired a 3.76% stake in Dutch drinks giant Heineken Holding NV, the parent company of the world's second-largest brewer, Heineken NV. This investment is particularly noteworthy because Gates himself has stated that he is "not a big beer drinker."

In a 2018 "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, Gates acknowledged that he wasn't much of a beer enthusiast. He wrote, "I am not a big beer drinker," and added that he might drink light beer to get with the vibe of all the other beer drinkers at events like baseball games. Despite his personal preferences, Gates has chosen to invest in Heineken, demonstrating his interest in diversifying his investment portfolio and his belief in the potential of the beer company.

Gates's investment in Heineken is valued at approximately 848 million to 883 million euros, or about $901.6 million to $939.87 million. Of this amount, he purchased 6.65 million shares in his individual capacity, and the remaining 4.18 million shares were acquired through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. This foundation has also played a role in other Dutch companies, including the online grocer Picnic BV and the fertilizer producer OCI NV.

While Gates may not be a big beer drinker, his investment in Heineken shows his business acumen and willingness to explore diverse opportunities. Heineken is one of the world's largest and most profitable brewing businesses, and this investment adds to Gates's already impressive portfolio of ventures outside of Microsoft, such as Berkshire Hathaway, Canadian National Railway, and Waste Management.

Although Gates's personal drinking preferences may not align with this particular investment, it demonstrates his strategic approach to business and his ability to recognize potential beyond his own personal tastes. This move reinforces his reputation as a savvy investor and a rebel who is willing to make bold decisions.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was instrumental in the deal

Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken, the Dutch drinks giant, for 883 million euros ($939.87 million) in February 2023. Gates purchased 10.8 million shares from Mexico's FEMSA, which was selling its stake in the brewing company.

The acquisition of Heineken shares by Gates and the foundation is not their first foray into the beverage industry. In 2007, Gates bought a $392 million stake in FEMSA, one of Mexico's largest brewers. Additionally, the foundation has previously funded a study on the health risks associated with alcohol consumption, advocating for stronger interventions to reduce the global health impact of alcohol.

The Heineken deal provides an insight into the diverse investment portfolio of Bill Gates, who is known for his ventures into various industries. Despite his statement that he is "not a big beer drinker", Gates has recognized the potential in investing in one of the world's largest and most profitable brewing businesses.

The deal also highlights the influence of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the business world. With its significant financial resources and focus on philanthropy, the foundation has the capacity to shape deals and investments that align with its charitable objectives.

Gates has invested in a beer company before

Bill Gates has invested in a beer company before. In 2007, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire bought a $392 million stake in FEMSA, one of Mexico's largest brewers and the largest bottler of Coca-Cola. Gates's purchase of shares in Heineken in February 2023 was also from FEMSA, which was divesting from Heineken at the time.

FEMSA sold its brewery to Heineken in 2010, and in 2023, it sold all 18 million shares it held in Heineken Holding NV, Heineken's parent company. Gates purchased 10.8 million of those shares, worth about 883 million euros ($939.87 million). This gave him a 3.76% stake in Heineken Holding NV, which controls 50% of Heineken NV, the maker of Heineken beer, as well as Amstel, Moretti, and Sol, among others.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable foundation launched by Gates and his former wife, also played a key role in the deal. The foundation took on 4.18 million shares, while Gates himself purchased the remaining 6.65 million. The overall stake was worth around 848 million euros or about $901.6 million as of the market close on the day of the transaction.

While Gates has said he is "not a big beer drinker," he has been diversifying his investment portfolio in recent years. In addition to his ventures in the beer industry, Gates has also invested in companies such as Berkshire Hathaway, Canadian National Railway, and Waste Management. He is also the largest private owner of farmland in the U.S., owning about 242,000 acres with assets totaling more than $690 million.

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