Brussels, Oct 3 - The world's second biggest brewer InBev expects high single-digit revenue growth and a slight contraction of EBITDA growth in the third quarter, the company said in a statement on Friday, sending shares lower.
The company also said it expected higher full year cost of sales per hectolitre, driven by inflationary pressures and commodities prices. It said the full year costs rise would be above the previously expected 5-6 percent.
The group does, however, expect to see cost improvements in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, as commodities prices ease.
"The trading update indicates a slightly weaker than expected third quarter performance," said KBC analyst Wim Hoste.
At 0723 GMT InBev shares were down 5.59 percent while the DJ Stoxx European food and beverage index was down 0.01 percent.
Inbev expects total volumes as well as own beer volumes to increase in the low single digit percentage range in the third quarter.
It said it had gained or maintained market share in 8 of its top 10 markets and adds its global brands Beck's and Stella Artois are also growing in the low single digit percentage range.
Management expects that third quarter operating conditions across major markets will likely remain in line with the second quarter of 2008, with signs of improvement in some markets.
North America, Latin America North, Latin America South and Asia Pacific are expected to report growth in total volumes, while in Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe small declines in volumes are expected to occur.
In Western Europe, Inbev expects total volumes to decline, but believes that its own beer volumes are likely to grow in the lower single digit percentage range.
InBev said it expected that the subscription period for its $9.8 billion rights issue to complete the takeover of peer Anheuser-Busch will be open from 16 October 2008 to 30 October.
The timing of the rights issue is subject to a final decision by its Board of Directors to proceed with and effectively launch the rights issue.
BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the rights offering.
Fortis Bank, ING, ABN AMRO and Santander are acting as joint lead managers.
The definitive dates of the subscription period, and other terms of the rights issue, will be detailed in an announcement to be published by InBev in due course, the group said in a statement.