Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. sold to InBev for $49.9B

[RobJohnson]

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.'s board of directors voted Sunday in favor of Belgian brewer InBev's $49.9 billion takeover offer, according to media reports.

Reports surfaced Friday that A-B's board was poised to accept the offer from InBev, which boosted its offer by $5 to $70 a share in an effort to seal a friendly deal and create the world's largest brewer.

A source told Reuters that the combined company, which is slated to house its North American headquarters in St. Louis, will be called Anheuser-Busch-InBev. A-B would have representation on the combined company's board of directors, according to the article.

An A-B spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment. An announcement of the deal is expected later Sunday night.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/07/07/daily93.html

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

I buy MILLER GENUINE DRAFT, so it won't impact me.

[RobJohnson]

I buy MILLER GENUINE DRAFT, so it won't impact me.

They still make that? I thought the "draft in a bottle" beers were just a 90's fad....like Ice beers.

A-B was an American icon....part of St Louis' foundation....this is a shock to me.

[Zeus]

I buy MILLER GENUINE DRAFT, so it won't impact me.

But of course they are talking about a beer company 

I'm just joshin ya. Back in my drinking days for some ungodly reason my drinking tastes in beer were out of the norm. I kinds liked a Plank Brewery, Miller brewing company distributed beer call Ice House.

[Wineslob]

Buttwiper is crap. No loss. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Buttwiper is crap. No loss. 

My first reaction too, but A-B is a lot bigger than Bud.  Still, doubt if it will have any short-term effect other than a certain percentage of folks changing brands of swill.

[Jim]

I buy MILLER GENUINE DRAFT, so it won't impact me.

They still make that? I thought the "draft in a bottle" beers were just a 90's fad....like Ice beers.

A-B was an American icon....part of St Louis' foundation....this is a shock to me.

They got caught napping, should have gone the other way. 
Gus Busch the current is not the bidnessman his forefathers were.

[Willow]

I don't know why, but it does sadden me!

[Tess Anderson]

I like Bud on tap okay. Can't stand BudLite, too lite.

I don't know why, but it does sadden me!

Frech acquisition of an American company...that even sounds bad.   

[Chris_]

I spent a week in AtomicLibSmasher's neck of the woods a few years ago.  Most everybody went out after work, and the ONLY thing you could get was something from the Big Three (A-B, Miller, Coors).  It was awful.

[debk]

Augie Busch is rolling over in his grave.....

[rich_t]

Another American Icon bites the dust.

 

[rich_t]

A-B was an American icon....part of St Louis' foundation....this is a shock to me.

They got caught napping, should have gone the other way. 
Gus Busch the current is not the bidnessman his forefathers were.

I'm not so sure how much it was a matter of them napping as the dollars devaluation, putting most of America's assets, in play. 

I suspect most Americans would be truely freaked out if they knew how much of America was owned by foriegn companies.

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

I spent a week in AtomicLibSmasher's neck of the woods a few years ago.  Most everybody went out after work, and the ONLY thing you could get was something from the Big Three (A-B, Miller, Coors).  It was awful.

That's about it, yeah. But I prefer Amber Bock made by Michelob. A nice, dark, carmely type of lager. Don't really care for the "Big 3", and I get pissed when I go to bars and they don't have Killian's or Amber Bock on tap.

[JohnnyReb]

I don't know why, but it does sadden me!

Have a beer......everything will then be alright.

....but don't be to soddened by it.

[Randy]

A-B was an American icon....part of St Louis' foundation....this is a shock to me.

They got caught napping, should have gone the other way. 
Gus Busch the current is not the bidnessman his forefathers were.

I'm not so sure how much it was a matter of them napping as the dollars devaluation, putting most of America's assets, in play. 

That's it in a nutshell. When the dollar starts heading farther into peso range watch it happen more.

[JohnnyReb]

A-B was an American icon....part of St Louis' foundation....this is a shock to me.

They got caught napping, should have gone the other way. 
Gus Busch the current is not the bidnessman his forefathers were.

I'm not so sure how much it was a matter of them napping as the dollars devaluation, putting most of America's assets, in play. 

That's it in a nutshell. When the dollar starts heading farther into peso range watch it happen more.

What was it? The dollar closed at about $1.60 against the Euro today?

[RobJohnson]

I spent a week in AtomicLibSmasher's neck of the woods a few years ago.  Most everybody went out after work, and the ONLY thing you could get was something from the Big Three (A-B, Miller, Coors).  It was awful.

Yup.

For many years you could not even get a Coors. Some places did have Coors light...very few had regular Miller, but many had Lite...if you ordered anything other then Bud or Bud Light, you would get a funny look!

[NHSparky]

Meh--**** it.  Time to go back on the microbrew kick.

Long Trail or Smuttynose, anyone?  How's about a Red Hook?  Arrogant Bastard?  Fat Tire?  Dogfish Head?  Rogue?  Or just a couple of Bierbitzch?

Or hell with it--just order one of EVERYTHING from John Harvard's.

[Miss Mia]

Meh--**** it.  Time to go back on the microbrew kick.

Long Trail or Smuttynose, anyone?  How's about a Red Hook?  Arrogant Bastard?  Fat Tire?  Dogfish Head?  Rogue?  Or just a couple of Bierbitzch?

Or hell with it--just order one of EVERYTHING from John Harvard's.

mmmmm, Fat Tire.  Also, Shiner Bock.   

[Chris_]

And, it's all Bush's fault...

"I'm disappointed," Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri said after the deal was announced creating the world's biggest brewer.

McCaskill and others from the home state of Anheuser-Busch had opposed the sale to the Belgian-based firm, claiming the 150-year-old American icon and maker of Budweiser would be lost to foreign investors.

"We need to remember that InBev could afford this All-American company because of the weak dollar created by the economic policies of the last seven years. It's time for a change in our nation's economic priorities."

[Bondai]

Meh--**** it.  Time to go back on the microbrew kick.

Long Trail or Smuttynose, anyone?  How's about a Red Hook?  Arrogant Bastard?  Fat Tire?  Dogfish Head?  Rogue?  Or just a couple of Bierbitzch?

Or hell with it--just order one of EVERYTHING from John Harvard's.

Fat Tire is good beer. Had a couple 20 ouncers with a big steak a couple of weeks ago....

[RobJohnson]

I heard this is pretty good:

http://www.hookandladderbeer.com/

[Rebel]

Does this make Cindy McCain an illegal alien now? 

Personally, I'm a Miller Lite man and can't stand Bud, but it is an American institution.

[Odin's Hand]

Michelob is the best beer they make, but, I'll be damned if you can find it cold in Oklahoma. Good riddence, Augustus Busch.