South Africa watchdog seeks fifth extension for regulatory scrutiny of SAB, AB InBev deal

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's competition watchdog will ask for another extension to scrutinise Anheuser-Busch InBev's planned $106 billion takeover of SABMiller, its spokesman said on Thursday. The watchdog was due to finish its investigation on Thursday, after it was granted a 15-day extension to complete its scrutiny. It has already extended the deadline four times. "I confirm that the competition Commission will not be issuing a decision on the SAB/ABInbev merger today. There will be another extension," Competition Commission spokesman Itumeleng Lesofe told Reuters, without elaborating. Lesofe said details would be provided at a later stage. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by James Macharia)