World number two brewer InBev was on the verge of merger talks with Anheuser Busch, a newspaper said on Tuesday, while consolidation fever drove up shares in global leader SABMiller. SABMiller shares shot up as much as 8,2% to a 19-week high of £13,24.
SABMiller, the world’s biggest brewer, beat forecasts with a 19% rise in annual earnings, but added beer volume growth in its current first-half will be hit by high input costs and high comparative figures. The London-based maker of Miller Lite, Peroni and Pilsner Urquell beers posted adjusted earnings per share on Thursday of 143,1 United States cents for the year to March 31.
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/ 10 October 2007
Brewers SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing have agreed to combine their United States operations to create a business that will have annual sales of ,6-billion and be the second-biggest market player behind Anheuser-Busch. The venture, MillerCoors, will generate around -million of annual cost savings.