South Africa’s competition watchdog plans to extend the deadlineof the study into Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (AB InBev) plan to acquire SABMiller for $106bn, a move that may delay the comapny’s takeover strategy.

The country’s Competition Commission spokesman Itumeleng Lesofe told Reuters: "This transaction raises certain concerns which should be considered and addressed.

"It is for this reason that we need more time to evaluate the transaction."

“The South African regulator was expected to complete the probe early this week but now has moved it by up to 15 days.”

The watchdog has extended the deadline three times. The South African regulator was expected to complete the probe early this week but now has moved it by up to 15 days.

This delay could hinder Anheuser-Busch InBev’s plan to close the takeover in the second half of this year.

South Africa has delayed takeovers on several earlier occasions. In 2011, Wal-Mart Stores was told not dismiss employees for two years after its purchase of Massmart, a move that led to an almost two month delay in the implementation of the $2.4bn acquisition.

An AB InBev spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal that it had agreed to the extension of the deadline: "We are confident that the Competition Commission is as committed as we are to ensuring that South Africa does not delay the global timetable for clearing the combination."

Besides a review by regulatory authorities in South Africa, the firm requires approval from authorities in the US, Europe and several other countries.