At least three high-powered global firms have bellied up to the transactional bar awaiting a potential combination between the world’s largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A./N.V. and fellow industry giant SABMiller PLC.
Although no official deal or even proposal has yet been made, any potential combination would create a company worth some $275 billion. On Wednesday—the same day that both parties announced AB InBev’s approach—The Wall Street Journal reported that London-based SABMiller had turned to Linklaters to serve as lead M&A counsel on the matter, placing longtime adviser Hogan Lovells in a supporting role.
