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InBev cleared for Budweiser buy

By Neil Merrett, 17-Nov-2008

Related topics: Financial

InBev says it will divest its responsibility for partially owned Canada-based brand Labatt to clear its acquisition of Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch.

As part of an antitrust clearance from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the brewer says it will agree to grant an independent third party exclusive license to produce Labatt’s brands such as the Blue and Blue light beers.

The group says that it will also sell off the Labatt USA group, responsible for the import marketing and sale of the brand in the country, to the licensee.

Completion of the $52bn (€40bn) takeover of Anheuser-Busch is expected to significantly extend the presence of an already major multinational brewer.