Belgian group Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, the world’s biggest beer producer, could return to Romania by taking over the owner of the Timisoreana and Ursus brands. The group exited the local market six years ago, when it sold the Bergenbier brand.

Anheuser-Busch InBev now plans to buy its biggest competitor SAB Miller PLC, which is the second largest beer producer worldwide, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal would create a giant which would dominate the beer market. It also means that the Belgian group would enter Romania again by taking over Ursus Breweries, the subsidiary of SABMiller in Romania.

Ursus Breweries was the leader of the beer market in Romania last year based on turnover.

Anheuser-Busch InBev had a stake in Bergenbier, the third largest player in Romania, which it sold it to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners in 2009, which later sold it to Canadian group Molson Coors.

editor@romania-insider.com