LEUVEN: The world’s biggest brewer, Belgian-Brazilian giant AB InBev, is mulling a takeover of its largest rival SABMiller in a potential US$245 billion marriage combining top beer brands Budweiser and Grolsch, the pair revealed yesterday.
The sector is looking at consolidation faced with the increased popularity of so-called craft beers that are brewed by smaller independent firms.
AB InBev reported a sharp fall in second-quarter profits owing to weak economic conditions in several markets, while Dutch beer giant Heineken recently bought half of US-based beer maker Lagunitas, hoping to cash in on the global rocketing popularity of craft beers.
“The board of SABMiller notes the recent press speculation and confirms that Anheuser-Busch InBev has informed SABMiller that it intends to make a proposal to acquire SABMiller,” said a statement from the British group.
AB InBev confirmed an approach had been made about a possible bid, but cautioned there was “no certainty” of a deal.
SABMiller shares rocketed by more than a fifth in value, while AB InBev jumped around 8 percent.
SABMiller, the maker of Foster’s, Miller and Grolsch beers, said its board “will review and respond as appropriate to any proposal which might be made.”
AB InBev, which brews Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois beers, was formed in 2008 by the merger of Belgian-Brazilian group InBev and US brewing giant Anheuser-Busch.
In a statement, AB InBev said it “confirms that it has made an approach to SABMiller’s board of directors regarding a combination of the two companies.”
Spiros Malandrakis, senior alcoholic drinks analyst at data research group Euromonitor International, said that “beyond the financial and cost savings side of such a potential deal,” the industry was being forced to act because of increased competition from different tasting craft beers brewed around the world.
“As the craft movement is coming of age and solidifies its position as a key disruption force within beer and the entire alcohol industry, corporate consolidation can perhaps provide some last drops of stock market intoxication,” he added.
SABMiller earlier this year bought London-based craft beer company Meantime for an undisclosed sum, as big players in a saturated beer market eye opportunities in the fast growing segment.
