The world's second-biggest brewer, SABMiller Plc, said on August 26 its Peroni unit would stop brewing and distributing Budweiser in Italy in November, coinciding with the launch there of Miller Genuine Draft.

The maker of Miller Lite, Pilsner Urquell and Castle beers said Peroni's nine-year-old agreement with world leader Anheuser-Busch had not been renegotiated following SABMiller's acquisition of a 60 % Peroni stake in May.

Peroni will launch Miller Genuine Draft in Italy towards the end of 2003, the statement said. Budweiser domestic Italian sales accounted for around four percent of total Peroni volumes in 2002.

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