Interbrew, the Belgian brewer, has turned to Lazard on a £1bn (€1.4bn) German beer bid, its first strategic move since using Lehman Brothers on UK acquisitions last year.

Interbrew's usual financial advisers have been Lehman and Goldman Sachs. Last year Lehman's UK corporate finance team advised Interbrew on its acquisitions of first Whitbread and then Bass Brewers, the UK brewers.