US: Senators announce hearing on $104 billion mega beer merger

The US Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee will hold a hearing to discuss Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA’s plans to buy rival SABMiller PLC, two senators said on Tuesday.

The world’s biggest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and SAB Miller, the world’s No. 2, said in mid-October that they had agreed on terms for a deal that is expected to top $100 billion.

Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican and chairman of the Senate’s antitrust panel, announced the hearing along with the top Democrat, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

“The proposal to merge the world’s two biggest beer producers raises serious antitrust concerns for the $100 billion a year beer industry,” said Ms. Klobuchar in a statement. “It is critical that we examine this deal closely to see how it will affect the price of a pint, and if it will harm the craft brewers that are serving up world class beers and jobs across the country.” Mike Lee said.

No date or other details of the hearing were given.

Full content: The Wall Street Journal

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