E-Malt.com News article: USA: Anheuser-Busch hires Goldman Sachs, Citigroup as financial advisors for a potential InBev’s bid

Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc. has hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. as financial advisers as it anticipates a potential takeover bid from Belgian brewing company InBev NV, FinancialWire reported June 3.

According to media reports, InBev has been trying to arrange a $50 billion funding package from a group of banks, including JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Banco Santander SA.

InBev, the brewer of Stella Artois, Beck's and Brahma, is eager to reclaim the title of the world's biggest brewer that it lost to SABMiller Plc earlier this year and drive consolidation in the global brewing industry.

Although Anheuser-Busch operates in the mature and slow- growing U.S. beer market, it still owns the world's top two beer brands, Bud Light and Budweiser, which InBev could plug into its operations in South America, Europe and Asia.


03 June, 2008