Mexico's Modelo says sale to AB InBev will not close in first quarter

Mexican brewer Modelo said on Thursday that Anheuser-Busch Inbev informed the company it will fight the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to stop the Belgian-based brewer from buying the half of Modelo that it does not already own.

Grupo Modelo no longer expects the deal to be completed in the first quarter, the company said in a statement to Mexico's stock exchange.

The Mexican brewer added that it has no further comment on the U.S. Justice Department's announcement.

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter)