The Anheuser-Busch InBev, SABMiller speculation started up once again, last week, thanks to a report out of Brazil that said the Budweiser brewer is mulling an US$80bn bid for its main rival. Already, this feels like one of those stories that is going to crop up periodically over a matter of years, probably netting someone somewhere a decent windfall in share buys and sells.

Of course, there are significant complications to a potential deal, such as MillerCoors and A-B InBev operating a near-duopoly in the US. But, it's not beyond the realms of possibility. Interestingly, many of the subsequent investment bank notes on a prospective deal have said that such a move is credible, only the timing is not.

There is a suggestion that A-B InBev wants to swoop before SABMiller gets its hands on Foster's; the assumption being that A-B InBev does not want to lumber itself with the Foster's business.

Is this a sound basis for kick-starting the biggest deal in brewing history? With InBev still digesting the remnants of A-B, it all feels too soon.

Elsewhere last week, we rolled out an official welcome to Beam Inc. Many observers used the arrival of the “pure-play spirits company” (phrase copyright of Beam's senior exec team!) as an excuse to trot out more 'when-will-they-be bought' coverage. Not us; we preferred to deal only in the facts.

Besides, we covered the speculation base a while back.

Features-wise, we ran our interview with the CEO of StarBev, Alain Beyens, last week. We also considered the future for Fraser & Neave after a colourful few months for the Singapore-based conglomerate.

Finally, Ben Cooper looked at the latest Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which saw PepsiCo named as leader of the food and beverage sector, while Coca-Cola lost its place altogether.

Until next time...

Olly Wehring
Managing Editor
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