AB InBev-SABMiller merger would create opportunity for Molson Coors

If Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller were to merge, “a valuable opportunity” might arise for Molson Coors,

a

Financial Times

report noted.

Molson Coors is the minority partner in MillerCoors, a joint venture with SABMiller that sells the companies’ beers. Citing analysts, the


FT


report said that a merger of AB InBev and SABMiller would trigger antitrust concerns in the U.S. that would likely force a sale of SABMiller’s 58% stake in MillerCoors.

The terms of the joint venture give Molson Coors the right of first and last refusal over SABMiller’s stake in MillerCoors, the


FT


report noted.

Molson Coors’ shares have risen more than 20% in the week since AB InBev’s interest in SABMiller became known, the article said.

The Molson family and the Coors family each own 16% of Molson Coors, the


FT


article said.

AB InBev has not yet made a firm offer for SABMiller, the


FT


report noted.  (Source:


Financial Times


, Sept. 23, 2015.)