Is It Miller Time For Anheuser Busch Inbev SA?

Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (NYSE: BUD) shares were sharply higher on Monday, on a rumor it was in talks with banks to line up financing for a prospective bid on SABMiller plc (OTC: SBMRY).

The Wall Street Journal reported a deal could be worth as much as $122 billion, but that Anheuser is not presently in talks with SAB, the world's second-largest brewer and maker of Miller beer, Foster's and Pilsner Urquelle.

Anheuser has recently traded up as much as 3 percent higher. On the London stock exchange, SAB was up nearly 10 percent.

Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), which holds a 28 percent stake in SAB, was up nearly 3 percent.

Worth noting, however, CNBC contradicted the Journal report during the day's trading, stating Anheuser is not in talks with banks for financing, nor is it in talks with SAB. CNBC didn't cite a source for its report.

$BUD is not in talks about financing a SAB purchase and is not in talks with SAB- sources. More on @SquawkStreet

— DAVID FABER (@davidfaber) September 15, 2014

In what some saw as a move to remain independent, SABMiller has tried to acquire the privately held Dutch brewing giant Heineken Holding N.V., but its offer was rejected Sunday.

Besides the SAB stake held by Altria, a sizable chunk of shares are controlled by the government of South Africa.