Missouri gov calls for Anheuser-Busch offer review

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday called for the Federal Trade Commission to review Belgian brewer InBev's INTB.BR $46 billion (23 billion pound) bid to purchase St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch (BUD.N).

Blunt wrote FTC Chairman William Kovacic that he is troubled by the offer and is seeking the review to determine if a combination of the companies would create a near beer monopoly and prevent free competition, according to a news release from the governor's office.

"America's economic system is best served by maintaining vigorous free competition among businesses. For Missouri and the city of St. Louis, the InBev buyout would likely have a significant economic impact," Blunt wrote, adding that the company has a $5 billion total impact on Missouri's economy.

The $65-a-share offer marks a move toward further consolidation of the beer market. Anheuser-Busch, which is known for its Budweiser brands, has slightly less than half the U.S. beer market while InBev's share is about 2 percent.

SABMiller (SAB.L) and Molson Coors Brewing <TAP.N, the United State's No. 2 and No. 3 players, recently formed a joint venture in the U.S. market. That deal was reviewed and approved by the U.S. Department of Justice, not the FTC.

"The beer beverage markets will soon be dominated by two companies, restraining effective competition and trade in the beer market," Blunt said.

An FTC spokesman was unable to comment on specifics involving Anheuser-Busch and InBev, but said companies can apply for pre-merger clearance to help speed along the process should a deal come through.

(Reporting by Erin Zureick, editing by Mark Porter)