Anheuser-Busch Sold to Belgians

[mapmaker89 1]

The King of Beers has been checkmated by a foreign rival.

The board of Anheuser-Busch (BUD: 66.87, +0.37, +0.55%) on Sunday agreed to sell itself to Belgian-beer giant InBev NV for $70 a share, for a total value of $49.91 billion. The combined company will be named Anheuser-Busch InBev and Anheuser will get two seats on the board.

It marks a dramatic shift for the Bud board and its managing Busch family, which, despite some support for the bid from some members, initially fought the idea of a takeover by InBev, which makes Stella Artois, among other popular brands.

But, despite spending weeks fighting the offer - and even initiating legal action to thwart a hostile bid - the Anheuser-Busch board ultimately headed to the bargaining table last week once InBev agreed to raise the price to $70 from $65.

The combined companies are now the world’s largest brewer with more than $35 billion in sales across 300 brands worldwide. SABMiller is currently the largest beer maker in the world.

The deal now is likely to face some political backlash. Local officials in Anheuser-Busch’s home city of St. Louis, Mo., have been fearful that InBev’s deal will cut jobs, and members of Congress have also expressed concern about such a large foreign company owning such a well-known American brand.

But Anheuser-Busch shareholders aren’t expected to have such qualms. Some publicly raised questions about why the company was so against a deal and balked when Anheuser-Busch’s board floated the idea of a takeover of its 50% stake in Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo as a way to fend off the Belgian suitor.quote>

Budweiser's going to the Europeans! AAhhhhh!

What do you guys think  about this? Will it cut more jobs in the struggling American economy? I don't think so, because Bud is such an American company...it will stay open in the US.

Also including two polls...so be sure to vote.

Have fun with this one!

-map

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[fukuda 351]

So? Where's the problem? That's how free market is meant to work, no? Or is that  one of the most violent countries defending free market is going to play protectionism?

And the second poll question is just......

Originally posted by: mapmaker89if(placement=="bottom") show_baynote_guide("ArticleGuide"); quote>

lol

[coolotter88 2]

Lol, I just saw an A-B commercial where the owner goes "and I think my great great great grandpa would be proud that many generations afterwards, we still own this company" or something like that.

[Zelgadis 638]

Good!  The Canadians have a nickname for American beer in general that I can't repeat here, but it's apt. 

Perhaps the Belgians will turn it into something drinkable.

ISF

[belfastuniguy 18]

So? Where's the problem? That's how free market is meant to work, no? Or is that one of the most violent countries defending free market is going to play protectionism?quote>

Indeed, that arguement could also be applied to Airbus winning the USAF contract for tankers and the losing Boeing decided to challenge. Though surely they can't be hypocrites as defenders of the free market

Perhaps the Belgians will turn it into something drinkable.quote>

Agreed lol

[GMT 389]

Budweiser (Budweiser Bürgerbräu) has always (since 1795) been a european beer u freaks ^^ 

and then the american Budweiser came a mere 100 years later (1870)

and then came another Budweiser from europe (Budweiser Budvar in 1895)

and a loong history of judical quarrels about name rights and *****...

so I think the final page is written... the us Budweiser finally belongs to a european company, like all other Budweiser do.

the child's come home again

so much for "such an american company"... they don't even have their own name ^^

BTW: the german wiki page of the Budweiser dispute offers WAY more details than the english one... I wonder why...

[RJ11 0]

I will admit, the Anheuser-Busch company has done some amazingly patriotic things such as if your an Active Duty military member, then you get into their theme parks for free. Another thing they had was a few commercials, do a search on youtube for like 9/11 budweiser commercial.

[stratusmonkey 0]

Originally posted by: zelgadis

Perhaps the Belgians will turn it into something drinkable.quote>

I'll drink to that!  I'm an American but I like good beer, especially Belgian and Belgian-style ales.  My grandparents can keep their corn juice with its artificial woodchip flavoring.

This is a victory for globalization.  Insert your feelings about globalization here.

[hamsterTK 93]

Now all they have to do is buy Miller Coors and the beer-opoly will be complete...

[belfastuniguy 18]

do a search on youtube for like 9/11 budweiser commercial.quote>

Just did Rather lovely ad

[hym 358]

Whether Budweiser is to be considered a "European beer" will depend on whether InDev makes the move to St. Louis following the buyout. Shortly after purchasing AB, InDev commented that, due to the extreme cost of procuring the company, it was investigating whether moving to St. Louis would lower operation costs. If it does, they said they would begin the process of becoming an American company.

[RJ11 0]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

do a search on youtube for like 9/11 budweiser commercial.quote>

Just did Rather lovely adquote>

Yeah, first time I saw it, it made me get a tear or two in my eye, they've got another one, don't know what you'd search but it's a commercial of Soldiers coming from or going to Iraq and the whole terminal stands up and applauds.

[turtlemonkey 0]

just drink labatt

[mapmaker89 1]

GMT -  I hope you know that I am talking about the American version of Budweiser, although I didn't know that it was originally European...

hym - InDev becoming American? That would be a turn of events. I wonder if that would mean that the beer they produce currently would become "American?"

The only thing I really heard was that they were supposedly keeping all 12 breweries in the United States open, for now.

For those who want a link to the Budweiser 9/11 commercial, it can be found

-map

[Fresh Prince of Wmbg 44]

Hope this won't our Budweiser factory or Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: RJ11

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

do a search on youtube for like 9/11 budweiser commercial.quote>

Just did Rather lovely adquote>

Yeah, first time I saw it, it made me get a tear or two in my eye, they've got another one, don't know what you'd search but it's a commercial of Soldiers coming from or going to Iraq and the whole terminal stands up and applauds.quote>

That would be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMfmYeSAM8.

and don't forget the

ad from the Super Bowl.

They make great commercials. 

As long as they keep the commercials and the Cyldesdales, and don't try to serve the beer warm, I imagine people will cope.

[RJ11 0]

Thanks SkiGeek ^^

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: mapmaker89 GMT - 

hym -

The only thing I really heard was that they were supposedly keeping all 12 breweries in the United States open, for now.

-mapquote>

 

Why would they close them?

Local production/distribution would be much cheaper then importing  it from someplace else.

[Malit Harring 0]

I hope they keep the breweries open. There are not a lot of jobs in my area and Anheuser-Busch is one of the bigger companies. And If I'm not mistaken employees at least 2000 people if not more. Stuff like that just starts a chain reaction in some areas. I won't go into details but just not good for all those involved.

[TheQuiltedLlama 34]

Originally posted by: RJ11 I will admit, the Anheuser-Busch company has done some amazingly patriotic things such as if your an Active Duty military member, then you get into their theme parks for free. Another thing they had was a few commercials, do a search on youtube for like 9/11 budweiser commercial.quote>

To me this seems like Budweiser profiting from 9/11. Because by airing this tribute people like you, and others in this thread, now see Budweiser as a 'good' company and thus are more likely to buy their products. I would say they pulled of this little publicity stunt perfectly, but perhaps I am just too cynical.

[Easy Bakes 253]

I wonder if the owners are speculating here.

Sell now and when the whole economy crashes in a few months buy it back for next to nothing.

[your_adress_here 11]

I hate the taste of Budweiser.

American beer is a big no-no for me.

[IDS2 3,346]

OK so InBev has 1/4 of the worlds beer market cornered now...do you realize how much beer that is?

[hummer0328 6]

I don't think it's really that big of a deal. I doubt much will change and they said there are no plans to close any of the plants. Besides, I don't drink Budweiser because I don't drink bad beer. It's not that American Beer is bad, just the cheap stuff. Living in Fort Collins, Colorado I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to good beer. Most bars barely carry the cheap stuff and instead mostly stock beer from all the local breweries like New Belgium, Odells, Fort Collins Brewery. We also have an Anheuser-Bush plant, but I don't see it closing anytime soon.

[Voar Tok 4]

Originally posted by: zelgadis

Perhaps the Belgians will turn it into something drinkable. quote>

No!

I know Ski would like to see the Clydesdales stick around, but I want to see both that and the recipe stay the same.

If you think Bud is bad, drink Tecate.  You'll never complain about Bud again.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: TheQuiltedLlama

To me this seems like Budweiser profiting from 9/11. Because by airing this tribute people like you, and others in this thread, now see Budweiser as a 'good' company and thus are more likely to buy their products. I would say they pulled of this little publicity stunt perfectly, but perhaps I am just too cynical.quote>

I think it was a nice thing for them to do.  I really enjoy their commercials.  But they don't make me more likely to buy their beer because I don't drink the stuff.    I know I'm not the only non-beer drinker who would be upset if they mess with the horses.

[toxicpiano 125]

it might taste decent now

[BurroDiablo 222]

I rarely drink Alcohol since i'm always designated driver

Still, I remember a few years ago when I last had a Bud, it tasting something close to carbonated vomit... not very nice. Not to be a pompous twat, but I reserve my drinking for finer things when I get the chance, usually Whiskey or Wine

[mapmaker89 1]

El Burro - I know what your saying. My dad gave me a taste of Bud when I was like five and I swore from that moment on that I'd never drink it again. Granted, I have had OTHER things to drink, but I won't ever drink Bud.

I still respect the company, though - what do you think was the reason for their buyout? They seemed to be doing fine.

-map

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

This goes to show you that Belgians like crappy beer, too.