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Cape Town - SABMiller [JSE:SAB] aims to protect its 90% market share in South Africa from rival Heineken, the head of the brewer's South African unit said on Monday.
The world's second-largest brewer was also confident it had a solid case against South African charges of violating anti-competition laws, MD Norman Adami said.
London and Johannesburg-listed SABMiller is facing a challenge from Heineken, which is trying boost its presence in Africa's biggest economy.
"They have expressed their ambition to achieve a 20% share of the market and that signals their serious intent and we've signalled that we intend a 90% share of the market," Adami told reporters after a presentation at a business school.
SABMiller, the maker of Peroni and Miller Lite, gets about 85% of its profits from the emerging markets of Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Heineken makes about 40% of its earnings in emerging economies.
Adami also said the brewer was confident it had a strong defence in an anti-competition case.
"I think we will be fully vindicated," he said.
The case, which has been going on for about six years, involves allegations that SABMiller abused its dominant market share to the detriment of independent distributors.
