Mexico's FEMSA in talks over $9B beer business deal

Mexican brewer and bottler FEMSA said on Thursday it is in talks with several companies about a possible deal involving its beer business. The company had talked with Britain's SABMiller Plc (SAB.L) and Heineken (HEIN.AS) from the Netherlands about a possible sale of beer operations that could be worth billions of dollars.
FEMSA confirmed being in talks "with several parties to explore opportunities involving its beer business" but added in its brief statement that "there can be no assurance that such discussions will lead to any definitive agreement."
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that a merger of FEMSA's beer operations with those of a larger international player would be valued at as much as $9 billion.
SABMiller declined to comment on the report, and officials at Heineken were not immediately available.
A deal with FEMSA could give an international player access to one of the region's most lucrative markets and create a formidable challenge to FEMSA rival Grupo Modelo (GMODELOC.MX), maker of the Corona brand.