Kraft
Foods Group Inc, the maker of Velveeta cheese and Oscar Mayer meats, will merge
with ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co, owned by 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway
Inc, to form the world's fifth-largest food and beverage company. Kraft's shares
rose about 17 percent in premarket trading after the announcement of the deal,
which will bring Heinz back to the public market following its takeover two
years ago. The companies said in a statement on Wednesday, the combined company
will have revenue of about $28 billion.