BRUSSELS—The world’s biggest beer maker clinched a deal Tuesday to take over its nearest rival in a bid to stave off the megabrewers’ most serious problems: the surge in popularity of craft brews and weakening sales in the rich markets of the United States and Europe.
SABMiller accepted in principle a takeover bid worth 69 billion pounds ($106 billion) from Anheuser Busch InBev in a deal that seeks strength in size. The combined company would control nearly a third of the global market.
Belgium-based AB InBev, already the world’s largest brewer, makes Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, and Beck’s. SABMiller, based in London, has Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni, and Milwaukee’s Best among its 200 or so brands.
Micro brewers and their highly differentiated cask ales continue to make progress.
, Warwick Business School
