Bond Negotiating to Acquire Stroh: Bond Corp....

Bond Negotiating to Acquire Stroh: Bond Corp. Holdings Ltd. Chairman Alan Bond said his Australian brewing conglomerate is negotiating to buy at least part of Detroit-based Stroh Brewing, a privately held company that is the No. 3 U.S. beer producer. But a stumbling block remains because Bond is seeking a controlling interest of Stroh and the Stroh family has said it wants to sell only a minority interest. Bond, a yachtsman whose debt-laden Bond Holdings has been attempting to weather a recent credit-rating cut and poor results, said he would merge his Lacrosse, Wis.-based G. Heileman Brewing Co. with Stroh if the negotiations succeed. Bond acquired the No. 5 U.S. brewer, Heileman, in a $1.28-billion takeover two years ago.