SABMiller has approached the Heineken family about a possible buy-out, news agency Bloomberg said on Sunday, citing ‘people with knowledge of the matter’.

The preliminary offer, which was rejected, was made to help SABMiller defend itself against a potential bid by Anheuser Busch InBev, Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg’s sources said Heineken’s family owners had rejected the approach because they don’t want to lose control of the company. Neither company would comment on the reports.

Bloomberg says SABMiller has long been seen as the ‘final target’ for AB InBev, which is the world’s biggest brewing group. SABMiller, originally South African, bought Dutch brewer Grolsch in 2008.