Beverage groups SABMiller and Asahi Breweries are looking at Foster's Group's beer operations, valued at more than $10 billion, but have not yet made any formal offers, sources said.
Long-running interest in the Australian brewer's beer business resurfaced today after the Sunday Times reported SABMiller was considering buying the unit.
Fund managers are divided over whether a suitor will emerge before Australia's largest brewer formally splits off its wine division in 2011 or wait, with complex debt and structural issues to be resolved.
A SABMiller spokesman had no comment to make on Foster's and said it planned no announcements today.
Foster's has one of the highest margin brewing operations in the world with brands including Foster's Lager, Victoria Bitter and Pure Blonde. Analysts say Foster's beer business could also be an attractive target for drinks firms such as Molson Coors, which owns a 5% stake in Foster's, and Coca-Cola Amatil.
Another source said Asahi, Japan's number two brewer after Kirin Holdings, remained interested.
Foster's had said in May it would split the beer unit from its ailing wine business, putting the beer operations at the centre of takeover talk in the drinks sector.
A takeover of Foster's beer would be the second largest takeover deal in the global food and drinks sector this year. A number of potential suitors including SABMiller and Asahi have been looking at the business since Foster's announcement to to split its beer and wine operations
