DealBook: Brewer to Buy Remaining Stake in Grupo 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%.

By Chris Katje: Shares of Constellation Brands (STZ) were sent rallying Monday as Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) is close to acquiring the reaming portion of Grupo Modelo it doesn't already own. The price tag is rumored to be $12-$20 billion for the remaining 50% that Anheuser Busch doesn't own.

By Chris Katje: One of the biggest news stories of last week was Anheuser Busch InBev's (BUD) acquisition of the remaining stake in Grupo Modelo. AB InBev bought out the 50% equity stake in Groupo Modelo that they did not previously own. New articles have come out talk about AB InBev possibly having to sell off brands to clear antitrust hurdles.

By Dutch Trader: In my March article "Anheuser-Bush Inbev: Strong Results and A Great Buy" I already was quite positive about the company. Back in March the stock was trading around $68. Right now the stock is trading around $80. Time to wait?

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. ...

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA agreed Friday to buy the half of Corona maker Grupo Modelo it doesn't already own for $20.1 billion in cash, in a deal that will greatly increase the size and dominance of the world's largest brewer.