Molson Coors has been identified as the mystery stakeholder in Australia’s largest brewer, Foster’s, strengthening speculation of a takeover. Deutsche Bank bought a 5.26% stake in Foster’s on behalf of a previously unidentified client on September 25, while rumours circulated that the stake could be an indication of a possible takeover bid in the near future. Molson Coors, which has operations in the US, Canada and the UK, made the announcement overnight when presenting their third... ...Read more »

Foster’s has reportedly hired an advisor to shield them from possible takeover predators. Speculation has been rife that Australia’s largest brewer would be subject to takeover bids as the beer industry continues to go through a major consolidation phase. Among this year’s major deals have been the combination of the world’s second and third largest brewers, InBev and Anheuser-Busch, the purchase of Scottish & Newcastle by Heineken and Carlsberg and the merger of the US... ...Read more »

SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company announced overnight that they have closed the transaction to combine their U.S. and Puerto Rico operations to create MillerCoors.MillerCoors, which will begin operating as a combined entity today, will be the second largest US brewer with the scale, resources and distribution platform to succeed in the highly competitive marketplace. “As a unified company with a world-class board and leadership team in place, MillerCoors will be able to create... ...Read more »

SABMiller and Molson Coors have received clearance from the US Department of Justice to proceed with the combination of their respective US and Puerto Rico operations to form a new company called MillerCoors. SABMiller and Molson Coors, the second and third largest brewers in the US, expect the transaction to generate approximately $500 million in annual cost synergies. The deal, symbolic of the consolidation taking place in the beer industry, is likely to result in the two largest US brewers holding... ...Read more »