ThaiBev Is Said to Weigh Sale of KFC Franchise Business

ThaiBev is considering selling its KFC franchise business, Bloomberg reported.

The Singapore-listed beverage group, controlled by Thailand's Sirivadhanabhakdi family, has begun weighing a divestment of its fried-chicken operations, according to the report. Bloomberg described the deliberations as preliminary and did not name potential buyers or attach a valuation to any possible transaction.

ThaiBev did not comment publicly on the report, and Bloomberg cited no timetable for a decision. The company may still choose not to proceed with a sale, the report indicated.

Any exit would mark a further pruning of ThaiBev's food portfolio as the company focuses attention on its core beverage businesses, which span beer, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks across Southeast Asia. The move would also test investor appetite for quick-service restaurant assets in the region at a time when global fast-food franchise operators are reshaping their footprints.

A sale process, if launched, would likely draw interest from regional restaurant operators and private equity firms that have previously chased franchise portfolios in Southeast Asia. Until ThaiBev confirms its intentions or appoints advisers, the valuation and structure of any deal remain open questions.