Broker: AB InBev to Buy Grupo Modelo This Year
LONDON -- Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world's largest brewer, is likely to buy the 50 percent it does not own of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo this year for around $10.8 billion, Reuters reported, citing a broker's note by Evolution Securities.
The Modelo deal would follow Heineken's acquisition of Mexico's other big brewer, FEMSA Ceverza, in January, and Evolution said Modelo with its larger share of the domestic and export beer markets is the more attractive brewer of the two.
"We believe that a deal is likely to be announced this year. ...We believe that a Modelo acquisition would provide a catalyst for outperformance," Evolution Securities analyst Andrew Holland said in the broker's note released Tuesday.
Modelo, which brews Corona beer, controls 58 percent of the world's sixth largest beer market, Mexico, compared to FEMSA's 42 percent, and accounts for 88 percent of Mexico's beer export market compared to FEMSA's 12 percent, the broker said.
AB InBev gained its 50.2-percent economic stake and 43.9-percent voting stake in Modelo after InBev's acquisition of Anheuser-Busch in late 2008. The controlling shareholders of Modelo are several families of the founders of the various brewers which now make up the Mexican brewer, according to the Reuters report.
The broker said assuming a takeover enterprise value/earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization multiple of 11.6 -- the same as the Heineken-FEMSA deal -- which puts a value on the 50 percent of Modelo at $10.8 billion.
Evolution said now that AB InBev has completed its disposal program after its Anheuser deal and this acquisition has been refinanced, the timing for a Modelo deal was right. It added the arbitration between AB InBev and Modelo over the legality of AB InBev's acquisition of Anheuser's stake in Modelo has lasted longer than expected, encouraging speculation the two sides may be discussing a full acquisition.
AB InBev was not immediately available for comment, according to Reuters.
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The Modelo deal would follow Heineken's acquisition of Mexico's other big brewer, FEMSA Ceverza, in January, and Evolution said Modelo with its larger share of the domestic and export beer markets is the more attractive brewer of the two.
"We believe that a deal is likely to be announced this year. ...We believe that a Modelo acquisition would provide a catalyst for outperformance," Evolution Securities analyst Andrew Holland said in the broker's note released Tuesday.
Modelo, which brews Corona beer, controls 58 percent of the world's sixth largest beer market, Mexico, compared to FEMSA's 42 percent, and accounts for 88 percent of Mexico's beer export market compared to FEMSA's 12 percent, the broker said.
AB InBev gained its 50.2-percent economic stake and 43.9-percent voting stake in Modelo after InBev's acquisition of Anheuser-Busch in late 2008. The controlling shareholders of Modelo are several families of the founders of the various brewers which now make up the Mexican brewer, according to the Reuters report.
The broker said assuming a takeover enterprise value/earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization multiple of 11.6 -- the same as the Heineken-FEMSA deal -- which puts a value on the 50 percent of Modelo at $10.8 billion.
Evolution said now that AB InBev has completed its disposal program after its Anheuser deal and this acquisition has been refinanced, the timing for a Modelo deal was right. It added the arbitration between AB InBev and Modelo over the legality of AB InBev's acquisition of Anheuser's stake in Modelo has lasted longer than expected, encouraging speculation the two sides may be discussing a full acquisition.
AB InBev was not immediately available for comment, according to Reuters.
Related News:
Anheuser-Busch InBev Lays Off 90
Anheuser-Busch InBev to Restructure U.S. Sales, Marketing