Dutch brewing company Grolsch will be put up for sale in an effort to win Brussels approval for a merger between the world’s two biggest beer groups, the Sunday Times said at the weekend.

AB Inbev will agree to sell Grolsch and Peroni so it can keep its own top names, including Stella Artois, the paper said.

AB Inbev struck a deal to take over Grolsch owner SABMiller earlier in November for around €60 a share, a 50% premium on the closing price on September 14.

British-South African brewing group SABMiller bought Grolsch for €816m at the end of 2007.

City sources told the British paper AB Inbev had already briefed its advisors about the sale. Potential buyers could include Dutch giant Heineken, Molson Coors and C&C, the paper said.