SABMiller Shareholders Reportedly Support New AB InBev Offer

(RTTNews) - Major SABMiller Plc (SBMRY.PK, SAB.L) shareholders have signaled they favor Anheuser-Busch InBev NV or AB InBev's (BUD, AHBIF.PK) revised $102 billion takeover offer as the board prepares to meet in the coming days to vote on whether it supports the deal, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The report indicated that investors including Allan Gray Ltd., Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Elliott Management Corp. are among those prepared to back the offer. Many shareholders view the takeover's potential collapse as a larger risk than accepting an offer that falls short of their expectations after AB InBev said its improved offer is final,

AB InBev this week raised its cash offer by one pound a share to 45 pounds and also increased the amount of cash for shareholders who choose a cash-and-stock alternative. SABMiller managers asked employees to halt integration work, knitting together the makers of brands including Budweiser, Beck's and Aguila, while they review the new offer. Chief Executive Officer Alan Clark said in an internal memo that "there should be no contact with AB InBev with immediate effect."