A-B to Tap Russian Beer Market?

Reportedly in talks to help S&N buy Baltic Beverages Holding.

Is Anheuser-Busch poised to crack into the Russian beer market?

Anheuser-Busch and some private equity groups have met with Scottish & Newcastle to discuss a joint bid to take over Baltic Beverages Holding, the No. 1 Russian brewer, news reports over the weekend said.

BBH is a joint venture between Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg. But now that S&N is in the sights of a buyout bid by Carlsberg and Heineken, it is moving to take full control of BBH.

Getting a stake in BBH would enhance A-B’s international presence.

From the UK’s Daily Telegraph:

"S&N's plan would be to finance a bid for BBH by offering a 25 per cent stake to a minority partner.

"Anheuser-Busch has long coveted a place in the rapidly expanding Russian beer market and replacing Carlsberg in a new joint venture with S&N would offer it part ownership of the country's leading brewer."

The Telegraph story can be seen here.