UK: Rumours say Greene King would consider a £3 billion bid for Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries

This is Money reported on November 10 that highly acquisitive Suffolk-based Greene King would consider a £3 billion merger with rival Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries before a total smoking ban comes into force next year in UK.

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries have been in constant demand of late amid vague speculation that Iranian property and pubs entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz has turned his attentions on the Wolverhampton-based brewer of Marstons, Cameron beer and Harp Lager after abandoning his high-profile takeover battle for control of managed pubs operator Mitchells & Butlers, 171/2p up at 625p.

The ubiquitous Greene King, valued at £1.45 billion, paid £187 million for Belhaven, Scotland's largest independent brewer, and earlier this year acquired Hardys & Hansons, a local brewery based in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire.

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