Rumors have been circulating through Wall Street and the beer industry this week that Anheuser-Busch Cos. is a target for a leveraged buyout, with the Eddie Lampert’s hedge fund ESL Investments considering a bid for the company.
One mainstream newspaper, the Times of London reported Lampert is weighing a $56-per-share bid for the St. Louis-based brewer.
“We assign a very low probability on the likelihood this transaction takes place,” said Citigroup analyst Bonnie Herzog in a note to clients.