Beer cos., DOJ in resolution talks for $20.1B deal

The U.S. Department of Justice is talking with beer makers Anheuser-Busch InBev and Grupo Modelo about potentially resolving a legal challenge to their $20.1 billion deal.

The beer companies and the government are asking the court for a stay of all litigation proceedings until March 19. There is no guarantee a resolution will be found.

The Justice Department in January sued to block the combination, saying having one company controlling nearly half of all U.S. beer sales would stifle competition. The beer makers recently revised the terms of the acquisition, which would give more control of Modelo's U.S. beer brands to a wine company, Constellation Brands Inc., in a side deal.

The government is weighing whether the revised terms of the deal resolve its concerns about market competition.