BRUSSELS: The world’s top brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev said on Thursday it successfully sold $46

billion of bonds in what may end up being the biggest bond operation in history. The bond sale is to help pay for the takeover of rival SABMiller, announced in November, the third largest acquisition in history at a value of $121 billion. Analysts said investors are flocking to bonds from top-shelf companies in an effort to find shelter from unstable markets hit hard by the economic slowdown in China. With the company likely to raise more debt in other currencies, the brewer may surpass the $49 billion US telecom Verizon raised two years ago in the biggest company bond offering on record. Reports said AB InBev initially hoped to raise $25 billion but hiked that to $46 billion with the heavy interest.