15th Sep 2014 05:30
LONDON (Alliance News) - SABMiller PLC is understood to have approached the owners of Dutch brewer Heineken NV over a possible bid for the company in an attempt to fend off a potential approach from Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, Bloomberg reported Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
The preliminary offer by the FTSE 100 drinks company was rejected by the family that controls Heineken, according to the people. They said the offer would have given the Heineken family among the largest shareholders in the combined entity, Bloomberg reported.
SABMiller has long been the subject of speculation about a possible bid from AB InBev, the Belgium-based beer group which has spent nearly USD100 billion on acquisitions in the past decade.
A merger with Heineken would give SABMiller an additional USD25 billion in sales and would increase its presence in emerging markets, whilst also helping it retain control over its future, Bloomberg said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-14/sabmiller-said-to-approach-heineken-family-with-offer-for-brewer.html
By Sam Unsted; [email protected]; @SamUAtAlliance
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