Anheuser-Busch Cos., the world's largest brewer, wants to buy stakes in German brewer Holsten-Brauerei AG and the Czech Budweiser brewer Budejovicky Budvar NP, German weekly Focus reported on Sunday without identifying its sources.
The report indicated that in recent weeks, Holsten's key shareholder, Christian Eisenbeiss, has indicated willingness to yield control of Holsten. He owns 48 percent of the company and hired Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. to sell all or part of his stake.
The Czech government on the other hand is considering privatizing Budejovicky Budvar and the Focus article reportedly said Anheuser-Busch is also very interested in acquiring the producer of Czech Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch has been in a dispute with the Czech brewer over rights to the Budweiser name. Anheuser-Busch sells the U.S. Budweiser beer, and has been fighting in about 50 countries over the Budweiser trademark.
Vranckx Steven