Inbev seeks to buy SABMiller

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ONDON—Anheuser-Busch InBev NV is talking to banks about financing what could be a roughly £75 billion ($122 billion) deal to buy global beer rival SABMiller PLC, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A tie-up between the world’s two largest brewing companies has been rumored for years, but a revival in global merger activity this year has sparked renewed speculation about a deal. AB InBev isn’t in active discussions with SABMiller SAB, +9.82% , said the person, explaining the company is waiting to line up its financing before making a formal approach.

The talks about financing come on the heels of an approach by SABMiller to buy Dutch brewer Heineken NV HEINY, +1.49% which Heineken said Sunday it had rejected. The U.K. brewer hasn’t been discouraged by Heineken’s initial rejection and would consider another bid, according to another person familiar with the discussions.

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