Could Potential InBev-A-B Merger Get Hostile?

Speculation continues to swirl around rumored deal.

Might InBev, the world’s biggest brewer by volume, make a hostile run at Anheuser-Busch?

That was the speculation reported last week by Beer Marketer’s Insights Express -- which also noted such a scenario was difficult to imagine.

From the report:

Some sources even suggest possibility of an attempted hostile takeover.  It is wild and unprecedented to imagine such a scenario, but these days nothing seems out of the question. 

BMI also reported that late last week that A-B CEO August Busch IV sent a note to distributors and employees saying the media were “essentially passing on the rumor” reported in a Brazilian paper about merger talks. Busch said it was the company’s policy to not comment on rumors.

A Belgian newspaper added fuel to the speculation last week, according to a report in AFX News Service. From the story:

A source close to InBev's family shareholders told daily Le Soir today that the tie-up is 'written in the stars'.

The AFX story also quoted analysts from Rabo Securities saying a deal would make sense:

'From a strategic point of view, InBev and Anheuser-Busch have a good geographic fit and mainly complementary market positions,' the analysts said.

Go here for Beer Marketer's Insights.

The AFX story can be found at forbes.com.