AB InBev Near Deal to Buy Control of Modelo

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop Anheuser-Busch InBev SA from buying the half of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo that it does not already own, saying the US$20.1-billion deal would lessen competition in the U.S. beer market. Trading in Constellation Brands, which would have become sole owner of the company that distributes Modelo’s Corona beer in the United States if the transaction had been approved, was halted after it dropped 23.8%.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is nearing a deal to buy the 50% of Corona Extra beer maker Grupo Modelo that it doesn't already own, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that would likely cost the Belgian brewer more than $10 billion.

By Zvi Bar:On January 31, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block the proposed $20.1 billion purchase of Grupo Modelo (GPMCY.PK) by Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), claiming that the deal would hurt competition and raise prices.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev , the world's biggest brewer and maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois beers, is in talks to buy the 50 percent of Corona beer maker Grupo Modelo that it does not already own, said a person familiar with the matter - in a potential deal that could top $10 billion. Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev owns a 50 percent non-controlling stake in Modelo, Mexico's largest brewer, which has a market value of roughly $23 billion. ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Th

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Anheuser

ByRichard Tarjeft:The stock of Anheuser Busch InBev SA (BUD), which is the world's largest brewer, appears poised to gain in coming weeks from the completion of a major acquisition that could place the popular beer maker in an even more dominant position in several emerging markets.

(SoCalMetro)