Anheuser-Busch and InBev

[fred rosenberger]

How do you think the merger will effect the world-wide beer market?

I live in St. Louis, the home of AB. there's a lot of talk here about what this would do to our city - the loss of prestige, the economic hit we'd take...

most of the white-collar jobs would probably go eventually. also, the St. Louis brewery is the oldest, and most expensive to run, of all the AB breweries (at least, that's what i've heard).

But then there are things like Busch Gardens , Grants' Farm, and of course the Clydesdales. Will InBev keep these, sell the off, or just discard them?

thoughts?

[Marc Peabody]

Originally posted by fred rosenberger:
... and of course the Clydesdales...

Let's wait and see if inBev makes an unsolicited offer on Elmer's.

[Jan Cumps]

Originally posted by fred rosenberger:
I live in St. Louis, the home of AB

Nice to meet you. I live near Leuven, the home of InBev. Fancy a drink?

Regards, Jan
[ June 13, 2008: Message edited by: Jan Cumps ]

[fred rosenberger]

Originally posted by Marc Peabody:

Let's wait and see if inBev makes an unsolicited offer on Elmer's.

There are folks i know who would gladly tar and feather you for making such a suggestion...

[Frank Silbermann]

Originally posted by fred rosenberger:
How do you think the merger will effect the world-wide beer market?

I live in St. Louis, the home of AB. there's a lot of talk here about what this would do to our city - the loss of prestige, the economic hit we'd take...

most of the white-collar jobs would probably go eventually. also, the St. Louis brewery is the oldest, and most expensive to run, of all the AB breweries (at least, that's what i've heard).

But then there are things like Busch Gardens , Grants' Farm, and of course the Clydesdales. Will InBev keep these, sell the off, or just discard them?

thoughts?

I am concerned about the possible loss of Anheuser-Busch's reputation for social responsibility. It is my understanding that they contributed to the campaign to improve the concealed handgun carry laws in Missouri.

[fred rosenberger]

i'm not sure what they did, or what exactly you mean by 'improve'...

[Pat Farrell]

Originally posted by fred rosenberger:
But then there are things like Busch Gardens, Grants' Farm, and of course the Clydesdales. Will InBev keep these, sell the off, or just discard them?

ImBev cares about selling beer. Specifically selling beer in the US. The Clydesdales help sell beer, they will stay.

Don't know about the theme parks, 30 years ago, you could get all the free beer you wanted in Busch Gardens, that was cool. If the parks make money, they will probably keep them, if not, they will be sold to someone like Danny Snyder.

Its about the beer.

[Pat Farrell]

recent buzz says that AB will reject it, opening the way for an ugly proxy fight. NY Times says:

In an effort to justify rejecting InBev�s $65-a-share bid, Anheuser-Busch is expected to announce an extensive reorganization aimed at bolstering profits that will include cutting more than $500 million in costs, these people said.

The savings will come from reducing marketing expenses and possibly shedding assets like its Busch Gardens theme park business and its packaging unit. The reorganization, which is expected to include scores of job cuts, may anger some residents and politicians in St. Louis, where the company�s headquarters is located, who had been pressing Anheuser-Busch to reject the bid in part to save local jobs.

[Pat Farrell]

Well, its done. "InBev's $52 billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch"

No clue what it means for beer. When the South African company bought Miller and created SABmiller, I didn't see much impact

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

And on the theme park side of the house:

Per article, "The St. Louis Post Dispatch says two potential buyers for Sea World of Texas, Six Flags Inc and Walt Disney Company, have both indicated no interest in acquiring Busch Entertainment Group."

It sounds like this means Sea World has interest, but not the other parks.

[Pat Farrell]

Dan Snyder owns Six Flags, you would not want him owning anything.

The general theme park business is way down these days, what with the recession, gasoline prices, etc.

In the olden days, Busch Gardens had free beer, all you could drink. That would probably help.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Originally posted by Pat Farrell:
In the olden days, Busch Gardens had free beer

Sea World still does. Not all you can drink, but a decent size cup.

[Frank Silbermann]

I remember visiting Busch Gardens in Florida about 45 years ago. It really was a garden then, with a big open zoo and lots of tropical bird exhibits. And a tour of the beer factory with a free glass (for adults). It had nothing to do with diesel-powered carnival rides back then.

I do admit that "Busch Gardens, the Old Country" in Virginia has been useful in teaching Americans about Europe. Americans who would likely never have the chance to visit Germany, for example, got to see lederhosen and slap dances.

[Pat Farrell]

Originally posted by Frank Silbermann:
I remember visiting Busch Gardens in Florida about 45 years ago. It really was a garden then, with a big open zoo and lots of tropical bird exhibits.

I was there only 32 years ago, guess I'm young. Then, it was mostly as you say, big zoo, lots of wild life and not much in the way of "rides" other than a train that took you from one section to the next.

At each train station, there was a bar, and you could get two free glasses of beer. So technically, it was not all you could drink. But you could just jump on the train to the next station, look at the animals, and have two more beers. Repeat as needed.

[Frank Silbermann]

A couple of news commentators from my home state have a unique perspective on the sale. Highly recommended!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQPPNFFTmo