BRUSSELS—InBev is determined to become the world's largest brewer with its $52 billion purchase of Anheuser-Busch; however, it still needs to convince investors that it is able to do so after it was forced to postpone a rights issue last month.
Investors are awaiting InBev’s and Anheuser-Busch’s third-quarter results on Nov. 6.
InBev, brewer of Stella Artois and Beck’s, is likely to reaffirm its commitment to the deal, but also may offer further details on the financing, possibly showing it has a degree of flexibility. The company already has secured $45 billion of debt, including $7 billion from divestments in a buyers' market, and is looking to raise $9.8 billion from a capital increase originally due to take place in the second half of October.
Anheuser-Busch shares hit a low of $54.35, far below the bid price of $70, on October 24, the day the rights issue was postponed. Despite a recovery, its shares are still trading at a 9-percent discount to that offer price.
Source:
FLEXNEWS: InBev's Budweiser Purchase Resolve Put to the Test
