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HO CHI MINH CITY (Reuters) - A unit of Thai Beverage TBEV.SI won the auction to buy a $5 billion or 54 percent stake in top brewer Sabeco SAB.HM in the country's biggest ever privatization process, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange said on Monday.

The anticipated sale of the state-owned maker of Bia Saigon gained momentum in recent months. Thai Beverage emerged as the only buyer for a majority stake as global brewing groups stayed out of the auction.