Beer bonds beckon for Australian investors

SABMiller Plc must be hoping that Australians like its debt as much as its beer.

The world's second-largest brewer, which took over iconic Australian beer brands including Foster's and Victoria Bitter in 2011, is considering its first bond deal Down Under.

While subdued consumer sentiment has pressured beer sale volumes in Australia, SABMiller said this month it had increased its share of the nation's market. A debt sale by the London-based producer would add to A$4.46 billion ($3.53 billion) of bond offerings in Australia this year by non-financial companies including miner BHP Billiton Ltd and Swiss concrete maker Holcim Ltd.