BRUSSELS, July 29 (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev,the world's largest brewer, cut its guidance for growth thisyear in Brazil due to the struggling economy on Friday and saidit aimed to seal the purchase of nearest rival SABMiller this year.
The maker of Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona raised its$100-billion-plus takeover bid for SABMiller on Tuesday to quashinvestor dissent over an offer made less attractive by a postBrexit vote fall in the pound.
Core profit in the second quarter rose by 4.3 percent on alike-for-like basis to $4.01 billion, below the average Reuterspoll forecast of $4.13 billion.
The company saw earnings growth in the United States, Mexicoand China, but was still suffered in its second-largest market,Brazil due to an economic downturn.
The company sold 4.5 percent less beer in Brazil than a yearearlier, an improvement from the 10 percent drop in the firstquarter, but below AB InBev's own forecasts.
It said it now expected Brazil revenue this year to besimilar to the level of 2015, down from previous guidance ofgrowth by a mid to high single digit percentage.
The company has forecast that its revenue per hectolitrewill grow ahead of inflation, partly as it pushes drinkers overmore expensive beers, but with challenging conditions in Braziland China. (Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop)
