A-B InBev In Talks To Acquire Full Control Of Modelo

Anheuser-Busch InBev is in talks with Grupo Modelo over a possible deal to acquire full control of the company. The Wall Street Journal reports that the transaction, expected to be valued at more than $12 billion, may be announced as early as this week but that it isn’t completed and could still fall through. The move would give A-B InBev full ownership of a company whose stable of brands includes top beer brands Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, as well as Barrilito, Estrella, Corona Light, Negra Modelo, Pacífico and Victoria, among others. A-B InBev acquired a non-controlling 50% stake in Modelo in 2008 when InBev bought Anheuser-Busch (which already owned the Modelo stake) for $52 billion. Grupo Modelo trades publicly on the Mexican Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization of roughly $23 billion.