Brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB) is seeking to raise up to $9.8bn (€8.6bn) by listing its Asia-Pacific business in Hong Kong, marking what would be the world’s largest initial public offering this year.

A rebounding European beer market is buoying Anheuser-Busch InBev and Carlsberg, lifting demand for mainstream brands such as Stella Artois and Tuborg.

Asahi will buy a group of eastern European beer brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev for €7.3bn, boosting its presence in the region in the largest overseas beer deal by a Japanese brewer.

Shareholders of beer giant SABMiller have given the green light to the firm's £79bn (€91bn) takeover by Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, paving the way for the biggest deal in UK corporate history.

SABMiller shareholders can be treated as two separate groups when they vote on the brewer’s £79bn (€91bn) takeover by Anheuser Busch InBev, a court in London has ruled, granting a request from SAB aimed at making the vote as fair as possible.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

SABMiller’s board will review its $107bn (€97.19bn) merger deal with Anheuser Busch InBev once all regulatory approvals have been secured, its chairman said yesterday.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, which will soon make almost 30% of the world’s beer, wants to serve more low and alcohol-free brews to drinkers trying to live a healthier lifestyle.

Britain’s decision to leave the EU has complicated a slew of deals.

SABMiller, the brewer that is due to be bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev later this year, reported a decline in full-year profit as it was saddled with charges related to some African operations and costs associated with the takeover.

Dell increased the amount of debt it will raise in the investment-grade bond market after the computer maker received over $80bn (€70.7bn) of orders from investors.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, intends to sell the Eastern European brewing assets of SABMiller to secure regulatory approval for its $100 billion (€88.2bn) takeover of its rival.

Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev has agreed a €2.55bn deal to sell European lager brands Peroni and Grolsch as it moves a step closer to sealing its takeover of SABMiller.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has formally informed EU anti-trust regulators of its plan to sell SABMiller’s premium European brands to try to secure approval for its $100bn-plus (€876m) takeover of the London-based brewer.

Carlsberg, the world’s fourth-biggest brewer, has pledged to pay more of earnings in the form of dividends as its new chief unveiled his strategy for the next six years.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the beermaker in talks to buy SABMiller for $107bn (€101bn), may sell the Peroni and Grolsch brands as it works to gain regulatory clearance to combine the world’s biggest brewers, people familiar with the matter said.

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s chief executive says a study of SABMiller’s African beer markets and talks with top shareholders led to an “alignment of stars” that drew it to its nearest rival.

Beer giant SABMiller turned up the heat in its takeover battle with rival Anheuser-Busch InBev as it said a sweetened bid from the Budweiser brewer "substantially undervalues" the business.

The world’s largest brewer wanted to keep the biggest deal of the year under wraps. Market chatter and the UK’s unique takeover rules got in the way.

Anheuser-Busch has approached rival SABMiller about a takeover that would form a brewing colossus which makes around a third of the beer consumed globally.

Brewing giant, SABMiller is buying Britain’s Meantime Brewing Company, snapping up one of the pioneers of craft brewing to give the owner of big brands such as Peroni and Grolsch exposure to a fast-growing part of the drinks market.

Water is set to become a more serious risk for companies and investors. It’s already recognised.

Four generations and 150 years on from the founding father of Heineken, the Dutch brewing family shows no signs of wanting to relinquish control.

Heineken has rebuffed a takeover approach from SABMiller.

WATER is never far from the news these days. This summer, northern India experienced one of its heaviest monsoon seasons in 80 years, leaving more than 800 people dead and forcing another 100,000 from their homes.

Scientists in Trinity College Dublin are working on a project to improve the shelf life of beer in plastic bottles with the support of one of the world’s largest brewing companies, SABMiller.

Carlsberg has reported second-quarter profits that missed estimates as unseasonably wet weather stunted sales in Europe and the company increased advertising spending.

Brewer SABMiller is set for a tough battle to turn around its Australian Foster’s acquisition as its beer volumes sink and it loses key import contracts.

Irish drinks group C&C would make an ideal acquisition target for larger international rivals SABMiller or Carlsberg, according to London industry analyst Phil Carroll of Shore Capital.

The maker of Guinness, Smithwick’s, Bushmills, and Bailey’s said its annual growth in Africa is set to accelerate beyond the current 15%, helped by its zero-duty Senator keg beer in Kenya and a strong rise sales of Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff.

An Australia court has approved brewing giant SABMiller’s $10.1bn takeover bid for Foster’s.

Foster's shareholders have approved brewing giant SABMiller's US$10.1bn (€7.5bn) takeover bid for the Australian company.

London-based SABMiller’s $10.1bn takeover of brewer Foster’s Group creates an opportunity for Australian beers to gain greater global acceptance, Foster’s chief executive John Pollaers said today.

BREWING giant SABMiller agreed to buy Foster’s Group for a sweetened price of A$9.9 billion (€7.48bn) yesterday after talks between the two last week ended in a couple of beers which sealed the deal this week.

London’s leading shares index fell into the red today after a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that time was running out to tackle threats to the economic recovery.

Australian brewer Foster’s Group has rejected a AUS$9.5bn cash takeover offer from London-based beer-maker SABMiller, saying the bid undervalues the company.

Brewing giant SABMiller today confirmed it will open its new £3m research brewery in Nottingham next month as it tries to reduce the amount of water required to make a pint of beer.

Uncertainty over the progress of Ireland's debt rescue and China's efforts to control inflation combined to unsettle world markets today.

Better-than-expected quarterly results from Wall Street giant Citigroup gave the London market a boost today as banking stocks rose higher.

The FTSE 100 Index crept into positive territory today during another choppy session dominated by worries over the scale of Europe’s debt crisis.

The FTSE 100 Index pulled out of a steep nosedive today after slumping fall below 5000 for the first time in six months.