SABMiller eyed for potential GBP 75bn takeover bid by 3G Capital, AB InBev could be part of 3G consortium
3G Capital, a New York City-based investment firm, has been thinking about trying to put together a consortium to launch a GBP 75bn (EUR 101.33bn) takeover bid for the listed UK-based brewing company SABMiller, The Mail on Sunday reported. The newspaper cited City sources, who said the consortium could include the listed Belgian brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev.
It is thought that the bid plan is at a preliminary stage and that 3G has yet to make a formal bid approach for SABMiller, the item said.
The Brazilian businessmen Carlos Alberto Sicupira, Paulo Lemann and Marcel Herrmann Telles run 3G Capital, the item said. The three businessmen are controlling shareholders in Anheuser Busch-InBev, according to 3G Capital’s website.
3G has been behind several large deals including the GBP 3.8bn acquisition of Burger King Worldwide in 2010 and the Canadian coffee shop chain Tim Hortons last year, as well as the USD 23bn acquisition of the food company Heinz, a joint deal with the private investor Warren Buffett.
The report cited unspecified sources who suggested that Buffett, who primarily invests via his Berkshire Hathaway vehicle, could back a 3G bid for SABMiller.
The article noted persistent speculation over the past few months that Anheuser-Busch InBev has been mulling an offer for SABMiller, the report noted.
SABMiller's market capitalisation stood at GBP 55.81bn at the close of trading in London on Friday, 13 February.