Why are people so mad that Anheuser-Busch is being sold to InBev?

Question

Almost all big american corporations are 5 or 10% owned by a foriegnors or a foriegn company.

There are only a very small amount of companies that are completely american owned

The stock holders voted and they want to sell if you dont own any stock or if not an employee why are you complaining.

Its not like InBev is going to discontinue the beer, or change the recipe that would be stupid on them since they just paid 52 billion on the company. They may introduce some new beers or start shipping there current beers to the USA but thats about it.

Miller is owned by a South African/English company and everybody still drinks it.

Answer 1

Anheuser-Busch like no other American brewer was iconic. The history, association, and what they have done for the people are in charity is unequaled in their industry. Many people grew up drinking their beers. They have taken pride in the "American" theme. But this is gone. They are no long uniquly American. And the reality of the pending world domination of several mega corps presses on.  InBev has a wild past of cut & burn. They slash jobs when ever they merge of buy out a business. On the flip side we have stsrted over builing new iconic names in the craft industry.

Answer 2

Canadians went through this when our beloved Molson was acquired by Coors.  Despite irrational fears, Molson Canadian, Molson Ex, etc...all still readily available.  That it's now owned by a South African conglomerate...much ado about nothing.

It's not up to any one individual; ultimately the shareholders decide whether to accept the offer or not; most shareholders don't care two scoots about beer patriotism; they want a return on their investment.

Answer 3

In Bev beers are better anyway

Answer 4

InBev already distributes many of their beers in the US. Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Franziskaner, Labatt Blue, Leffe, Lowenbrau, St. Pauli Girl...are all InBev brands.

Why people should be mad is the consolidation of the Megabrewers could be damaging to the craft/microbrewery market.

SABMiller now owns Coors-Molson...creating MillerCoors.

InBev now owns Anheuser-Busch... creating Anheuser-Busch InBev.

That leaves Heineken as the third largest beer manufacturer in the world.

Three companies control over 93% of the world beer market. InBev is notorious for cutting cost by any means possible...including ingriedents and employees. SABMiller is notorious for buying their compotition and shutting them down. What happens when these three companies turn their attention to crushing the craft beer movement? Will we be left with poor quality beer again? I don't know about you but the 1970's sucked...I don't want to go back there.

Answer 5

InBev beers are not way better but only slightly so.

This sucks.

Within a year look for major layoffs.

Answer 6

US brewing giant Anheuser-Busch agreed to a $50 billion takeover by Belgium-based InBev NV, which in turn will create the world's largest beer maker. Anheuser-Busch was started 148 years back in St. Louis, when Eberhard Anheuser bought Bavarian Brewery in 1860. Later on, his son-in-law Adolphus Busch took over and then began the Busch family’s dominance. InBev was formed when Leuven-based Interbrew SA bought Sao Paulo- based Cia.de Bebidas das Americas, or AmBev, in an $11 billion transaction. Its portfolio includes more than 200 brands.

This takeover comes after a month of court fights and public disputes over the future of Anheuser-Busch. InBev’s improved purchase offer of 70-dollar-a-share has put an end to their hostility. Three months earlier, it had offered 65-dollar-a-share. Once this deal gains regulatory approval, it would be the largest in alcoholic drink history and the second biggest of a U.S. consumer-goods company. The combined company will be called Anheuser-Busch InBev. The combination of Anheuser-Busch and InBev will create the global leader in the beer industry and one of the world's top five consumer products companies. It would offer consumers about 300 brands, including Anheuser's Budweiser and Bud Light and InBev's Stella Artois and Beck's.

The company will make St. Louis, Missouri the headquarters for the North American region and the global home of the flagship Budweiser brand. Anheuser-Busch will get two seats on the new company's board, its current president and CEO August Busch IV and another current or former director from the Anheuser-Busch Board.

The expanded company will aim to have leading positions in the world's top five markets - China, U.S., Russia, Brazil and Germany and balanced exposure to developed and developing markets. The transaction will create significant profit potential both in terms of cost savings and revenue enhancement.

Answer 7

I suppose that there has always been a little competition in some beer drinking circles about the quality of "domestic" and "Other" beers.  Bud has always been the leader of the pack on the domestic side, and now its changing teams.  Things probably won't change much and people will get over it soon enough - but people need to grieve for the domestic champion of beers.

Also, rumor has it that they will also buy Busch Gardens, Sea World and all that goes with that end of things.  Major changes there could upset the Florida economy a smidge - plus I like Sea World - I'd hate to see it close or change to much.

Answer 8

I WAS along time Bud drinker-NO MORE!

Its not that the company is being sold to a foreign company or that companies are partially owned by foreign companies.

The fact that stockholders voted to sell is minor in the feelings of the market place.Stockholders are voting simply for the highest[at that moment dollar value]with little or no feeling for tradition,loyalty or feeling of the greater good.Stock-whores always sell for the highest dollar.

I personally think this move will go down in history as logical as AOL/TIME-WARNER, foolish at best.

Just remember :profits from foreign-owned companies do not stay in AMERICA.

I will not drink a colonialist beer.