Sodastream International Ltd Up 1.6%, Yet Another Buyout Rumor Floated

Sodastream International Ltd SODA spiked early Thursday on another buyout rumor concerning the Israeli-based soda machine maker.

The Independent, a U.K. based newspaper, repeated an unsourced rumor Thursday that beer brewer SABMiller plc is interested in acquiring Sodastream. Private equity group KKR may also strike a deal according to the report.

Separately, Israel-based website TheMarker said an unidentified British investment fund was in talks to acquire Sodastream at $40 per share.

Sodastream, with a market capitalization of $675 million, cut its 2015 sales growth forecast to five percent from 15 percent earlier this year, after missing second-quarter expectations.

Keurig Green Mountain Inc., with backing from PepsiCo, is expected to launch a home soda machine later this year in direct competition with SodaStream.

Rumors reported by Israeli website Calcalist last April and previously in June 2013 have suggested that PepsiCo Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. and Starbucks Corporation could acquire SodaStream.

Sodastream traded recently at $32.40 per share, up 1.73 percent.