Analyst Pours Cold Water On Diageo PLC Rumor

Diageo plc

is unlikely to be acquired by Anheuser Busch Inbev SA

, an analyst said Monday. The rumor regarding London-based Diageo gained currency Friday in an unsourced story on Veja, an influential Brazilian media outlet owned by privately held Grupo Abril. http://veja.abril.com.br/blog/radar-on-line/economia/saiba-qual-e-o-alvo-de-lemann-telles-e-sicupira-no-mercado-de-bebidas/ The report, which said Brazilian billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann was interested in a deal, got carried by both Reuters and Bloomberg, and initially sent Diageo shares up more than 8 percent. Diago traded recently at $115.22, down $2.78. Anheuser, in which Lemann's 3G Capital holds a substantial stake, gained 2 percent Friday and traded recently at $121.67 down $2.83. Molson Coors Brewing Company

lost about 3 percent Friday and traded recently at $73.29, up $0.68 cents. Analyst Robert Ottsenstein of Evercore ISI said a bid for all of Diageo in the near term is "highly unlikely." Moreover, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Diago hasn't made a required disclosure regarding talks. http://www.wsj.com/articles/diageo-shares-climb-on-takeover-speculation-1433768168 Under U.K. takeover rules, if buyout talks result in a "material or abrupt movement" in share price, a market disclosure is required. "It suggests no formal approach has yet been made," the Journal said. Ottenstein said it's "plausible" that Anheuser might discuss the purchase of Diago's Guinness unit. "However, we do not think Diageo is a seller," Ottenstein said. Beer equals about 20 percent of Diageo's total sales but accounts for up to 70 percent of its Africa earnings, according to the analyst. "The sale of Guinness is not something Diageo has to do" according to Ottenstein, who said potential benefits of a sale don't outweigh "the risk of potentially messing up Africa." Also, unless Diageo is considering a major acquisition, "it doesn't need cash," Ottenstein added.