Hansen Natural Corp., a Corona beverages maker that’s riding high on sales of energy drinks, is in talks with Anheuser-Busch Cos. that could touch on an acquisition of the company by the king of beers.
Anheuser-Busch is talking with Hansen about jointly making an energy drink, according to media reports.
Speculation the talks could led to Anheuser-Busch buying the company sent Hansen’s shares up nearly 5% in early trading Friday.
Anheuser-Busch, the top U.S. brewer, is said to be looking at energy drinks as a way to offset sluggish beer sales.
The talks could bring a distribution deal or acquisition, according to trade publication Beverage Business Insights.
“Based on follow-up inquiries, we believe conversations between Anheuser-Busch and Hansen are indeed happening,” Reuters quoted Stifel Nicolaus analyst Mark Swartzberg as writing after the Beverage Business Insights report. “We believe an outright acquisition is neither impossible nor likely.”
Hansen, based just over the county line, declined to comment on the speculation.
The company long has been seen as a takeover target for Coca Cola Co. and Pepsico Inc.
But after a big stock run-up based on energy drink sales, some think Hansen is too pricey for the cola companies.
Hansen counts a market value of $2.8 billion.
